CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for temporary help services in Pennsylvania
1,460 temporary help services operated in Pennsylvania in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,460CBP 2023
- Employees
- 110,839mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.2U.S. 11.2
- State rank
- 7th of 51by count
The temporary staffing agency industry in Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau counted 1,460 temporary help services in Pennsylvania in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 561320). They employed 110,839 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. Temporary help services make up 0.48% of the 307,065 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Pennsylvania has 11.2 temporary help services, in line with the national rate of 11.2. The average establishment has 75.9 employees against 95.3 nationally. Payroll per employee is $45,778, 5.9% below the U.S. figure of $48,635.
| Measure | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,460 | 38,254 |
| Mid-March employees | 110,839 | 3,645,678 |
| Annual payroll | $5,074,012,000 | $177,308,415,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 75.9 | 95.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $45,778 | $48,635 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.2 | 11.2 |
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 temporary help services
Census published temporary staffing agency counts for 27 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Pennsylvania. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 731 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 53% 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 | 731 | 30,821 | 11.5 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 276 | 11,077 | 11.4 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 139 | 5,259 | 22.6 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 97 | 6,325 | 10.9 |
| Lancaster, PA | 60 | 2,561 | 10.7 |
| Scranton, PA | 58 | 3,372 | 10.1 |
| York, PA | 48 | — | 10.2 |
| Reading, PA | 31 | 1,664 | 7.1 |
| Erie, PA | 27 | 1,211 | 10.1 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 20 | 1,081 | 12.6 |
| Lebanon, PA | 14 | 1,525 | 9.6 |
| State College, PA | 12 | 531 | 7.5 |
| Hermitage, PA | 11 | 271 | 10.2 |
| Altoona, PA | 10 | 618 | 8.3 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 9 | — | 5.4 |
| Williamsport, PA | 9 | 283 | 7.9 |
| Pottsville, PA | 8 | — | 5.5 |
| DuBois, PA | 8 | 462 | 10.2 |
| Johnstown, PA | 6 | 288 | 4.6 |
| Sunbury, PA | 6 | 153 | 5.5 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 5 | 124 | 4.6 |
| Meadville, PA | 5 | — | 6.1 |
| Indiana, PA | 4 | 45 | 4.8 |
| Lewisburg, PA | 4 | 377 | 9.5 |
| Warren, PA | 4 | — | 10.7 |
Top 25 of 27 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at temporary help services in Pennsylvania
37.7% of Pennsylvania's temporary help services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 37.2% nationally. 44.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 551 | 37.7% | 37.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 105 | 7.2% | 8.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 150 | 10.3% | 8.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 232 | 15.9% | 14.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 422 | 28.9% | 30.7% |
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.
Calls a temporary staffing agency in Pennsylvania has to catch
Staffing agencies fill shifts on short notice, so the phone is constantly in use with workers and clients. Early-morning call-outs require quick action.
A few of the calls that come in to temporary help services in Pennsylvania:
- The agency calls workers about open shifts.
- A worker calls about a paycheck.
- A worker calls out sick before a shift.
What temporary help services text about
Agencies text shift offers and confirmations to workers who opted in.
Texting from a local number in Pennsylvania requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for temporary help services in Pennsylvania
Temporary help services in Pennsylvania average 75.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 76-person team. Priced per seat, 76 users would run $2,280.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,896.20 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,519.00 a month for 76 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $9,132 less than RingCentral for a temporary staffing agency in Pennsylvania of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $1,519.00 | $18,228.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,444.00 | $17,328.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,748.00 | $20,976.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,896.20 | $22,754.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $2,052.00 | $24,624.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $2,280.00 | $27,360.00 |
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. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a temporary staffing agency can hold a number in more than one of them.
| 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 temporary help services in Pennsylvania
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Pennsylvania is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many temporary help services are in Pennsylvania?
1,460 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 110,839 people in mid-March.
Which Pennsylvania metro area has the most temporary help services?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 731 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 76-person temporary staffing agency?
$2,280.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $1,896.20 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $1,519.00 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.