CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania
2,099 custom computer programming services firms operated in Pennsylvania in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 2,099CBP 2023
- Employees
- 37,308mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 16.0U.S. 20.0
- State rank
- 11th of 51by count
The custom software firm industry in Pennsylvania
County Business Patterns counts 2,099 establishments in Pennsylvania classified as Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511) for 2023. They employed 37,308 people in mid-March and reported $3.8 billion in annual payroll. That is the 11th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Custom computer programming services firms make up 0.68% of the 307,065 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Pennsylvania has 16.0 custom computer programming services firms, 19.8% below the national rate of 20.0. The average establishment has 17.8 employees against 14.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $101,743, 18.1% below the U.S. figure of $124,254.
| Measure | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,099 | 68,051 |
| Mid-March employees | 37,308 | 1,012,250 |
| Annual payroll | $3,795,823,000 | $125,775,835,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 17.8 | 14.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $101,743 | $124,254 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 16.0 | 20.0 |
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.
Where custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania are concentrated
Census published custom software firm counts for 24 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Pennsylvania. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,765 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 43% 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 | 1,765 | 20,385 | 27.9 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 455 | 11,530 | 18.7 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 120 | 1,894 | 19.5 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 98 | — | 11.1 |
| Lancaster, PA | 66 | 559 | 11.7 |
| York, PA | 44 | 449 | 9.3 |
| Reading, PA | 44 | 212 | 10.0 |
| Scranton, PA | 28 | 152 | 4.9 |
| State College, PA | 26 | 264 | 16.3 |
| Erie, PA | 22 | — | 8.2 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 18 | 74 | 10.8 |
| Johnstown, PA | 11 | 91 | 8.5 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 8 | 113 | 5.0 |
| Altoona, PA | 8 | 33 | 6.7 |
| Lewisburg, PA | 7 | — | 16.6 |
| Lebanon, PA | 6 | 30 | 4.1 |
| Williamsport, PA | 6 | — | 5.3 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 6 | — | 5.6 |
| Hermitage, PA | 5 | 28 | 4.6 |
| Indiana, PA | 4 | — | 4.8 |
| Bloomsburg, PA | 4 | — | 6.1 |
| Hemlock Farms, PA | 4 | 3 | 6.4 |
| Pottsville, PA | 3 | — | 2.1 |
| DuBois, PA | 3 | — | 3.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania
69.2% of Pennsylvania's custom computer programming services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 72.0% nationally. 80.3% 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 | 1,453 | 69.2% | 72.0% |
| 5–9 employees | 233 | 11.1% | 10.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 164 | 7.8% | 7.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 133 | 6.3% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 116 | 5.5% | 4.9% |
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 custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania
Small software shops juggle client meetings, support requests and sales calls with a team that is mostly heads-down building. A shared line with routing keeps support from interrupting developers while still answering clients. That holds for custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania:
- A partner agency calls about a subcontract.
- The firm calls a client to review a milestone.
- A client calls to schedule a demo.
After-hours calls
Production issues can come in after hours, so an urgent flag on voicemail helps the on-call developer.
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 custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania
Custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania average 17.8 employees, so the comparison uses an 18-person team. Priced per seat, 18 users would run $540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 18 people cost $359.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,172. 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 | $359.00 | $4,308.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $342.00 | $4,104.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $414.00 | $4,968.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $449.10 | $5,389.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $486.00 | $5,832.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
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 custom computer programming services firms in Pennsylvania
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each 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 custom computer programming services firms are in Pennsylvania?
2,099 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 37,308 people in mid-March.
Which Pennsylvania metro area has the most custom computer programming services firms?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 1,765 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 18-person custom software firm?
$540.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $449.10 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $359.00 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.