Pennsylvania Employment Agreement / Offer Letter (2026)

A job offer letter or full employment agreement with pay, benefits, confidentiality, IP and restrictive covenants drafted to your state's non-compete, sick-leave and pay-timing rules.

Updated September 11, 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against Socko v. Mid-Atlantic Systems, 126 A.3d 1266 · 43 P.S. § 260.4 · 43 P.S. § 260.5

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Employment Agreement / Offer Letter. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Pennsylvania are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Offer letter or full employment agreement in one wizard
Position, duties, location and start date
At-will or fixed term
Exempt / non-exempt status with FLSA overtime note
Salary or hourly pay, bonus and commission plan
Benefits, PTO and state paid sick leave
Confidentiality, DTSA notice and IP assignment with state carve-outs
Non-solicitation and state-compliant non-compete
Termination, final pay timing and return of property
Optional arbitration, governing law, state new-hire notices

Pennsylvania rules that this document follows

Non-compete rule	Enforceable if reasonableSource: Socko v. Mid-Atlantic Systems, 126 A.3d 1266 (Pa. 2015); Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act, 2024 Pa. Laws 74
Invention-assignment carve-out	No statute — agreement controlsSource: No state invention-assignment statute; common law and the agreement control (own-time inventions unrelated to the business generally remain the employee's)
Pay frequency	on regular paydays designated in advance; wages due within 15 days after the period ends unless a different period is setSource: 43 P.S. § 260.4
Final paycheck	Discharged: next regular payday. Resigned: next regular payday.Source: 43 P.S. § 260.5
Paid sick leave	No statewide mandate; local ordinances: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allegheny CountySource: No statewide paid sick leave mandate
Pay transparency	No state requirementSource: No state pay-transparency statute (local ordinances may apply)
New-hire wage notice	Notice of rate and payday: rate of pay, regular payday and place of payment, and any fringe benefits, at the time of hiringSource: 43 P.S. § 260.4; 34 Pa. Code § 9.4
Exempt salary floor	$684.00/week ($35,568.00/yr, 2026) — federal FLSA levelSource: 29 C.F.R. § 541.600

Rules current as of 2026-09-14. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Employment Agreement / Offer Letter in Pennsylvania

Decide exempt vs. non-exempt honestly: the salary floor and the duties test both matter, and misclassification is the most expensive payroll mistake.

Give the signed offer letter or agreement before the first day, together with the Pennsylvania new-hire wage notice (43 P.S. § 260.4; 34 Pa. Code § 9.4), and complete Form I-9 within three business days of the start date.

Frequently asked questions

Can I include a non-compete in Pennsylvania?

Yes, if reasonable in time, area and scope and supported by a legitimate business interest (Socko v. Mid-Atlantic Systems, 126 A.3d 1266 (Pa. 2015)). Common-law reasonableness; new consideration required mid-employment (Socko); healthcare practitioners: ≤ 1 year, patient notice within 90 days, void if employer terminates without cause (Act 74 of 2024, eff. Jan. 1, 2025).

When is the final paycheck due in Pennsylvania?

If discharged: next regular payday. If the employee resigns: next regular payday (43 P.S. § 260.5). Wages must otherwise be paid on regular paydays designated in advance (43 P.S. § 260.4).

Does Pennsylvania require paid sick leave?

No statewide mandate. Local ordinances apply in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. The agreement refers to your written policy.

What salary makes an employee exempt in Pennsylvania?

$684 per week ($35,568 per year) under the federal FLSA (29 C.F.R. § 541.600); Pennsylvania sets no higher floor. The duties test must also be met.

Does Pennsylvania limit invention assignment?

No statute; the agreement's own carve-out for unrelated own-time inventions applies.

Other names

offer letter
job offer letter
employment contract
employee agreement
at-will employment agreement
executive employment agreement
hiring letter
work contract

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.