Pittsburgh-based UPMC has made plans to raise minimum wage to $18 per hour, more than double the minimum wage in Pennsylvania.
The shift will apply to entry-level positions, according to a Jan. 12 news release. With the raise, those taking full advantage of UPMC's benefits — including a percentage matching retirement savings plan, tuition assistance and subsidized emergency senior and childcare — will make the equivalent of $27 per hour.
The health system will begin by increasing wages at its Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Williamsport hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory centers and other facilities by January 2025. It will extend the raise to sites in Southwest Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, Western Maryland and Southwest New York by January 2026.
Wages and benefits for unionized employees will continue to be negotiated by their unions, the release said.
"In 2016, we were the first healthcare system in Pennsylvania to announce and achieve $15 an hour, and this next step demonstrates our commitment to support our workforce and attract new talent," John Galley, UPMC's senior vice president and chief human resources officer, said in the release. "Once again, UPMC is the first healthcare employer in the state to make this commitment, and we are proud to lead the way to $18 an hour."