top 12 jobs and growing industries in philadelphia, pennsylvania.

While Philadelphia is known for its rich history, from the ringing of the Liberty Bell to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it’s also gained a reputation for its thriving education sector and high-end technology and life sciences fields. The second-largest city on the East Coast, Philadelphia is home to major universities like the University of Pennsylvania, Temple and Drexel, attracting top talent and research investments.

Other hot industries in Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), include office and administrative support (13.2 percent of total employment), healthcare support (6.4 percent) and business and financial operations (6.8 percent). And according to Randstad’s research, salaries in Philadelphia are 17 percent higher than the national average, putting the salary ranges on the higher end of the scale.

If you’re on the lookout for companies hiring right now in Philadelphia, check out our list of the top 12 jobs and growing industries in the city.

The legal field makes up 1.1 percent of Philadelphia’s total employment, according to the BLS. Eleven of the country’s highest-grossing law firms are located here, as well as 13 Fortune 500 companies, making corporate law especially relevant. Law clerks, who help judges and lawyers with legal research and administrative tasks, earn on average $54k in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia region ranks fourth among metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels in healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, which includes hospitals, physician offices and outpatient care centers. That means there’s a demand for surgical techs, who sterilize equipment and assist surgeons in operating rooms. The typical annual salary is $55k to $64k.

Philadelphia consistently ranks among the top 10 markets for life sciences and biopharma, and is home to 1,200 life sciences companies, including big names like AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Merck. A key part of the industry are clinical research associates, who organize and run clinical trials to support the development of new drugs. With a salary of $103k to $136k, it’s also one of the higher-paying jobs in Philadelphia.

Business and financial operations make up nearly 7 percent of Philadelphia’s total employment, with the region home to big financial services companies like Colonial Penn, Lincoln Financial and Vanguard. The outlook is great for financial analysts too, as overall employment in this role is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. As a financial analyst, you can expect to earn $108k to $131k.

Philadelphia is a fast-growing tech hub, as well as being homebase for major companies like Comcast — their 60-story Comcast Technology Center opened in 2018 and includes an incubator space for technology startups. Recent graduates from the region’s dozens of universities and colleges also create a buzzing startup scene. There is plenty of work for software developers in this field, with an average salary of $120k in Philadelphia.

Since the city is a stronghold for specialized industries including robotics and cell and gene therapy, as well as headquarters for financial services companies, recruiters are required to keep the businesses going. Recruiters can earn between $72k and $85k, making it a high-paying job in Philadelphia where you could possibly work from home.