Bedford County's labor force is nearly 25,000 strong. Manufacturing is the largest sector of the local economy, employing over 2,400 people in 2008, followed by Retail Trade at 2,265 and Accommodation & Food Service at 1,973 jobs. Per capita income in Bedford County was $26,707 in 2007, compared with $38,793 for Pennsylvania. Wages in the county vary dramatically by industry. The industry with the highest average wage in the country is Utilities, at $54,460 for 2008, followed by the State Government, coming in at $47,574. The Construction Industry rounds out the top three with an average wage in Bedford County of $43,594.
The average wage in Bedford County is $31,740, coming in over $7,200 less than the same metric for the state of Pennsylvania. Rural areas often lag state averages, which are buoyed by higher wages in large metropolitan centers. According to the May 2008 Occupational Employment Survey, there are three major industrial sectors where Bedford County wages do outperform the state averages: Protective Service Occupations, Farming, Fishing & Forestry Occupations and Materials Moving Occupations.
Bedford County's 22,000 plus employees are mainly working for private firms, with over 18,150 in that category. Government employment accounts for over 2,300 jobs, while over 2,000 people are self-employed.
Over 59% of the households in Bedford County are married-couple families. As a result, mean household income is much higher at $46,966. The Chamber of Commerce, elected officials and many other business organizations have been working for decades to insure a bright future for Bedford County with an abundance of well-paying jobs. While the current national economic climate may seem bleak, imagine what the local economy would look like without REI, Bedford Springs, Lampire Biologicals and the many other fine companies that are growing here.
Average Occupational Wages
Accountants $42,530
Administrative Assistants $27,230
Architects & Engineers $44,950
Assemblers/Fabricators $27,030
Bartenders $16,370
Bookkeepers $25,880
Bus/Truck Mechanics $31,680
Carpenters $33,870
Cashiers $16,930
Chief Executives $93,190
Child/Family Social Workers $43,040
Compliance Officers $45,280
Computer & Math Occupations $46,470
Construction Laborers $36,380
Dishwashers $16,380
Education Administration - Elementary & Secondary $70,890
Electrical Engineers $53,780
Engineer Managers $75,480
Fast Food Cooks $15,960
Financial Managers $57,510
General Office Clerks $27,170
Health Support Workers $23,610
Hotel Desk Clerks $18,840
Human Resource Clerks $29,480
Heavy Truck Drivers $36,390
Janitors $22,850
Laborers $26,420
Librarians $51,510
Machinists $35,670
Maids/Housekeepers $17,790
Mechanical Engineers $45,830
Medical Managers $53,240
Network Administrators $52,330
Office Support Workers $28,490
Order Clerks $28,810
Personal Care/Service Workers $19,980
Postal Carriers $44,890
Preschool Teachers $39,130
Production Workers $30,180
Receptionists $21,100
Rehab Counselors $26,710
School Bus Drivers $18,690
Security Guards $20,800
Tool & Die Makers $37,820
Waiters/Waitresses $16,640
Welders $31,570
Top Employers
Wal-Mart Distribution Center 685 employees
Pennsylvania State Government 465 employees
New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. 426 employees
Kennametal, Inc. 385 employees
UPMC Bedford Memorial 365 employees
Bedford Area School District 280 employees
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) 232 employees
Bedford Reinforced Plastics 230 employees
Thomas Automotive Family 226 employees
Chestnut Ridge School District 226 employees
Wal-Mart Associates 219 employees
Cannondale Bicycle Corporation 215 employees
Bedford County Commissioners 215 employees
Gateway Travel Plaza 200 employees
Everett Area School District 200 employees
Tussey Mountain School District 184 employees
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort 165 employees
SAC, Inc. 160 employees
Northern Bedford County School District 153 employees
Pennknoll/Consultate Health Care 140 employees
Creative Pultrusions 140 employees
United States Government 135 employees
Rockland Manufacturing 130 employees
Bedford-Somerset MH/MR 115 employees
Weis Markets 115 employees
PA Department of Transportation 113 employees
Bedford Valley Petroleum Corp./RG Stores 110 employees
Corle Building Systems 100 employees
Rehabilitation Center at Donahoe/HCR Manor Care 100 employees
McDonald's/Delamor Enterprises 99 employees
Blue Triangle Hardwoods 95 employees
ALSM Children's Services 95 employees
Landmark Restaurant/Arena Restaurant/Quality Inn Bedford 81 employees
Bob Evans Restaurant 80 employees
Sheetz, Inc. 80 employees
Everett Foodliner, Inc. 76 employees
JLG Industries 75 employees
McDevitt & Slick Enterprises 75 employees
Breezewood Best Western, Hardee's & Family House 75 employees
The Gazette Publishing Company 64 employees
Bedford Ford/Bedford Chrysler/Bedford Motor Sports 64 employees
Captive Aire 60 employees
HMS Host Marriott/South Midway 60 employees
B.C. Stone Inc. 57 employees
Area Agency on Aging 56 employees
Petro All American Plaza/Perkins Family Restaurant 53 employees
Giant Eagle 53 employees
Saxton Foodliner 53 employees
Ruggeri Enterprises 50 employees
HMS Host Marriott/North Midway 50 employees
