UPMC confirms central Pa. facilities offer $15 an hour minimum wage

UPMC said today that it raised its minimum wage for starting employees to $15 an hour in January.

The Pittsburgh-based health care giant had pledged back in March 2016 that it would reach the $15 mark by 2021.

UPMC said the hourly rate for entry-level positions includes UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg, Community Osteopathic, West Shore, and UPMC Carlisle, Hanover, Lititz and Memorial hospitals and many other facilities and sites.

UPMC said it was “the first health care employer in the Commonwealth to commit to a $15/hour minimum by 2021.”

“Based on UPMC’s continual evaluation of the market, this solidifies our reputation as a highly desirable employer with industry-leading total compensation packages, a focus on work-life balance and significant opportunities for career advancement,” said John Galley, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, UPMC.

UPMC said it has 92,000 employees across all facilities and “is the largest non-government employer in Pennsylvania.”

“We are very proud of our wages, generous benefits and other rewards and of the tens of thousands of jobs at UPMC that have meaning and purpose, and that fulfill an incredibly important mission for the region and the communities that we serve,” said Philip Guarneschelli, president, UPMC Pinnacle. “We review the market each year to ensure that our salary ranges are competitive, and we are committed to rewarding our strong-performing employees with merit increases on an annual basis.”

Combined with the health care provider’s benefits, UPMC said employees making $15 an hour earn “the equivalent of $24.97 an hour.”

“UPMC’s average compensation is $70,600 annually, not including benefits. UPMC also employs more than 38,000 people with an annual salary of over $50,000, more than any other employer in the region.”

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

The U.S. House early on Saturday approved a massive covid-19 relief bill that includes increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The Senate, however, is not expected to approve the bill if it includes that measure.