Frontend Developer pay in Philadelphia, by the numbers
After a simplified 13% national tax estimate that is about US$6,900 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Philadelphia vs the national and PA picture
On a United States league table of 19 metros, Philadelphia comes 11th. One place higher is Dallas at US$96,740, one lower is Atlanta at US$93,590, and San Jose tops the list.
No other PA metro has observed frontend developer percentiles here, so Philadelphia is judged against the 19-metro national list instead.
Cost of living and take-home in Philadelphia
Price levels in Philadelphia (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$94,600.
Adjusting for prices does not move Philadelphia in the ranking: it is 11th of 19 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$6,900 monthly (13% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 24% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$3,380 in the black.
Philadelphia vs similar-cost metros
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$104,820 (+11% vs Philadelphia), and the modeled budget leaves US$670 more each month.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$107,290, 13% more than Philadelphia; modeled monthly leftover is US$830 higher.
Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$96,870, 2% more than Philadelphia; modeled monthly leftover is US$150 higher.
Frontend Developer vs other occupations in Philadelphia
Of the 9 roles we track in Philadelphia, Frontend Developer is 8th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$170,660).
Closest neighbours in the Philadelphia list: Financial Analyst at US$95,400 (+1%) and Accountant at US$85,990 (-9%).
How Philadelphia ranks at the low and high end
Entry-level frontend developers fare better here (7th of 19 at the 10th percentile, US$59,070) than senior ones (14th at the 90th, US$143,410).
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$233,990 at the 90th percentile, +63% against Philadelphia.
Spread between low and high frontend developer pay in Philadelphia
The 90th percentile (US$143,410) is 2.4× the 10th (US$59,070), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.