Pennsylvania has historically been a heavily industrialized state, with coal, steel and oil dominating its economy through the 19th and early 20th centuries. Manufacturing is still a major industry in the Keystone State, but Pennsylvania careers in that field generally have a very different appearance than those of past generations. The new high-tech economy offers Pennsylvania jobs in fields such as finance, healthcare, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, robotics and education. However, there are still many Fortune 500 manufacturing companies headquartered in PA, including PPG Industries, Alcoa, U.S. Steel and Allegheny Technologies.

Philadelphia, the largest city in the state, is a leading U.S. center for finance and law. Healthcare is the principal creator of private-sector Philadelphia jobs; employers of note in the metro area include three highly regarded children’s hospitals and facilities for some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, including Wyeth (founded in Philadelphia in 1860), GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. Healthcare, education and scientific research have become primary sources of Pittsburgh jobs. Heinz and PNC Financial are headquartered there as well. The federal government is another leading source of jobs in Pennsylvania; Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital until 1800.