The growth or decline in average salary, shown as a percentage gain or loss since 2000, in each economic sector.
Salaries are a gauge of overall economic health and a measure of the degree to which employees are sharing in the prosperity of a community or a specific economic sector. They also indicate the vitality of a region and its ability to compete and attract workers.
Between 2000 and 2018, the average salary for Berks County workers increased 8%. This was less than Pennsylvania, where average salaries increased 12%, and the nation, up 11%. Most economic sectors in Berks County saw average salaries rise during this period, but the extent varied widely. The largest increase occurred in Financial Activities, up 41% to $77,200. Government workers on average experienced a 27% gain, to $54,300. The average Construction salary was up 23%. Educational Services, however, saw the average salary drop 21%, and the Leisure sector saw the average salary decline by 4%.
Among neighboring counties during the same 19-year period, Lancaster, Lebanon and Lehigh saw smaller average salary increases than Berks of 4%, 6% and 5%, respectively. The increase in Montgomery was similar to Berks. Schuylkill and Chester were both up by 11%.
Figures are in constant 2018 dollars. Data for this indicator are released annually in September. Industries in which most of the workforce is part-time (such as Leisure and Hospitality) may appear to pay even lower salaries than they do in comparison with sectors that have more full-time workers. Data for this indicator are released annually in September.
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| Construction | Educational Services | Financial Activities | Government | Health Care and Social Assistance | Information | Leisure and Hospitality | Manufacturing | Natural Resources and Mining | Other Services | Professional and Business Services | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 16% | 9% | 25% | 17% | 11% | 32% | 10% | 9% | 32% | 18% | 22% | 5% | 11% |
| Pennsylvania | 20% | 10% | 31% | 20% | 12% | 20% | 8% | 5% | 33% | 14% | 27% | 6% | 12% |
| Berks County | 23% | -21% | 41% | 27% | 18% | 6% | -4% | 6% | 21% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
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| Chester County | 15% | 2% | 30% | 23% | 6% | 25% | -2% | -9% | 12% | -8% | 41% | -1% | 11% |
| Lancaster County | 6% | -2% | 37% | 13% | 17% | -13% | -1% | -2% | 9% | 15% | 34% | 4% | 4% |
| Lebanon County | 12% | -3% | 22% | 23% | 12% | 40% | 10% | -2% | 6% | 21% | 17% | 10% | 6% |
| Lehigh County | 19% | 4% | 26% | 27% | 21% | -11% | 4% | -9% | -10% | 7% | 35% | -1% | 5% |
| Montgomery County | 15% | 30% | 33% | 20% | 4% | -11% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 27% | 8% | 9% |
| Schuylkill County | 21% | -5% | 21% | 17% | 3% | 0% | 12% | 23% | 13% | -2% | 2% | 16% | 11% |
| Construction | Educational Services | Financial Activities | Government | Health Care and Social Assistance | Information | Leisure and Hospitality | Manufacturing | Natural Resources and Mining | Other Services | Professional and Business Services | Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $62,498 | $50,884 | $95,353 | $65,649 | $51,494 | $110,004 | $24,343 | $68,585 | $59,605 | $38,544 | $75,083 | $48,361 | $57,265 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,400 | $57,064 | $88,791 | $61,663 | $50,741 | $85,623 | $21,185 | $62,582 | $62,887 | $34,087 | $77,832 | $45,847 | $55,628 |
| Berks County | $63,822 | $37,189 | $77,184 | $54,317 | $52,705 | $55,840 | $16,350 | $62,023 | $41,487 | $27,933 | $62,543 | $41,326 | $50,358 |
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| Reading city | |||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | |||||||||||||
| Chester County | $72,201 | $55,079 | $121,713 | $56,087 | $49,226 | $108,713 | $20,975 | $76,237 | $42,987 | $33,142 | $109,208 | $56,353 | $71,039 |
| Lancaster County | $58,441 | $40,483 | $69,726 | $49,868 | $48,089 | $52,829 | $17,766 | $56,159 | $37,996 | $33,409 | $61,299 | $38,928 | $46,354 |
| Lebanon County | $53,391 | $44,830 | $51,086 | $50,413 | $49,765 | $59,230 | $15,794 | $50,102 | $40,164 | $26,339 | $36,367 | $37,956 | $42,609 |
| Lehigh County | $65,760 | $47,806 | $66,960 | $58,188 | $59,489 | $73,628 | $19,113 | $68,624 | $37,848 | $33,878 | $71,010 | $44,196 | $53,883 |
| Montgomery County | $79,611 | $57,715 | $112,126 | $65,316 | $51,692 | $91,442 | $21,293 | $88,680 | $45,142 | $35,922 | $94,464 | $54,645 | $69,511 |
| Schuylkill County | $48,430 | $41,767 | $48,026 | $52,896 | $40,546 | $51,150 | $14,992 | $56,885 | $46,655 | $23,020 | $42,068 | $36,436 | $42,676 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate |  Decreasing |
| Change in Labor Force |  Increasing |
| Employment to Population ratio | Increasing |
| Change in Jobs by Sector | Not Applicable |
| Sector Share of Total Jobs | Decreasing |
| Average Salary by Sector | Not Applicable |
| Change in Average Salary by Sector | Not Applicable |
| People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work | Increasing |
| Public Assistance |  Maintaining |
| Spending for Local Governments | Maintaining |
| Spending for Counties | Maintaining |
| Spending for School Districts | Maintaining |
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