Business phone system for engineering services firms in Pennsylvania
2,243 engineering services firms operated in Pennsylvania in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 2,243CBP 2023
- Employees
- 48,394mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 17.1U.S. 18.6
- State rank
- 7th of 51by count
How many engineering services firms operate in Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau counted 2,243 engineering services firms in Pennsylvania in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541330). They employed 48,394 people in mid-March and reported $5.1 billion in annual payroll. That is the 7th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Engineering services firms make up 0.73% of the 307,065 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Pennsylvania has 17.1 engineering services firms, 7.8% below the national rate of 18.6. The average establishment has 21.6 employees against 19.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $104,997, 4.5% below the U.S. figure of $109,949.
| Measure | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,243 | 63,233 |
| Mid-March employees | 48,394 | 1,260,577 |
| Annual payroll | $5,081,206,000 | $138,599,619,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 21.6 | 19.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $104,997 | $109,949 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 17.1 | 18.6 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Pennsylvania's largest markets for engineering services firms
Census published engineering firm counts for 30 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Pennsylvania. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,190 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 56% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,190 | 24,058 | 18.8 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 562 | 17,368 | 23.1 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 142 | 2,123 | 16.0 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 127 | 3,254 | 20.6 |
| York, PA | 81 | 1,148 | 17.2 |
| Lancaster, PA | 80 | 1,172 | 14.2 |
| Scranton, PA | 67 | 686 | 11.7 |
| Reading, PA | 67 | 1,470 | 15.3 |
| State College, PA | 51 | 560 | 31.9 |
| Erie, PA | 25 | 377 | 9.3 |
| Johnstown, PA | 17 | 475 | 13.1 |
| Altoona, PA | 16 | 367 | 13.3 |
| Williamsport, PA | 16 | 234 | 14.1 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 14 | — | 8.4 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 14 | 118 | 8.8 |
| Hermitage, PA | 14 | 55 | 12.9 |
| Pottsville, PA | 12 | — | 8.3 |
| DuBois, PA | 12 | 82 | 15.4 |
| Somerset, PA | 11 | 489 | 15.2 |
| Lebanon, PA | 10 | — | 6.9 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 7 | 36 | 6.5 |
| Indiana, PA | 7 | — | 8.4 |
| Bloomsburg, PA | 7 | 81 | 10.6 |
| Meadville, PA | 6 | 101 | 7.3 |
| Sunbury, PA | 5 | 56 | 4.6 |
Top 25 of 30 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at engineering services firms in Pennsylvania
44.1% of Pennsylvania's engineering services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 53.1% nationally. 60.1% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 989 | 44.1% | 53.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 359 | 16.0% | 15.0% |
| 10–19 employees | 399 | 17.8% | 13.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 287 | 12.8% | 11.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 209 | 9.3% | 7.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for engineering services firms in Pennsylvania
Engineering firms handle client calls, contractor questions and agency coordination, often while staff are in the field. Routing calls to the right project engineer saves time on every project.
A few of the calls that come in to engineering services firms in Pennsylvania:
- A municipal reviewer calls about comments.
- A homeowner calls about a structural inspection.
- The firm calls a client about a schedule.
After-hours calls
Field issues sometimes need an after-hours callback; routine calls can wait until morning.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for engineering services firms in Pennsylvania
Engineering services firms in Pennsylvania average 21.6 employees, so the comparison uses a 22-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $548.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $660.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 22 people cost $439.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,652. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $439.00 | $5,268.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $418.00 | $5,016.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $506.00 | $6,072.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $548.90 | $6,586.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $594.00 | $7,128.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $660.00 | $7,920.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 15 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 267 | 786 | Eastern | 1999 | 215, 445 |
| 484 | 786 | Eastern | 1999 | 610, 835 |
| 717 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 223 |
| 814 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 582 |
| 215 | 783 | Eastern | 1947 | 267, 445 |
| 724 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 878 |
| 570 | 782 | Eastern | 1998 | 272 |
| 610 | 782 | Eastern | 1994 | 484, 835 |
| 412 | 762 | Eastern | 1947 | 878 |
| 272 | 336 | Eastern | 2013 | 570 |
| 223 | 252 | Eastern | 2017 | 717 |
| 878 | 190 | Eastern | 2001 | 412, 724 |
| 445 | 183 | Eastern | 2018 | 215, 267 |
| 582 | 154 | Eastern | 2021 | 814 |
| 835 | 109 | Eastern | 2022 | 484, 610 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for engineering services firms in Pennsylvania
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Pennsylvania, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many engineering services firms are in Pennsylvania?
2,243 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 48,394 people in mid-March.
Which Pennsylvania metro area has the most engineering services firms?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,190 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 22-person engineering firm?
$660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $439.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Pennsylvania number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.