What the data says about software engineer pay in Philadelphia
Monthly take-home on that median is roughly US$9,400; local prices sit at COL 100, so its buying power is about US$133,000.
Software Engineer pay in Philadelphia: national and in-state ranking
Directly above Philadelphia is Dallas (US$133,290); directly below is Atlanta (US$132,960). The full range runs from US$128,430 in San Antonio to US$213,110 in San Jose.
No other PA metro has observed software engineer percentiles here, so Philadelphia is judged against the 21-metro national list instead.
Is US$133,040 a good salary in Philadelphia?
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$133,000).
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Philadelphia: 14th of 21.
After a simplified 16% effective national income tax, the median nets about US$9,400 a month. A modeled 1-bedroom (US$1,650) takes 18% of that, leaving around US$5,870 after modeled living costs.
Philadelphia vs similar-cost metros
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$166,830 (+25% vs Philadelphia), and the modeled budget leaves US$2,140 more each month.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$160,920, 21% more than Philadelphia; modeled monthly leftover is US$1,760 higher.
In Chicago — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$134,380 (+1% vs Philadelphia), and the modeled budget leaves US$80 more each month.
Software Engineer vs other occupations in Philadelphia
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in Philadelphia at US$170,660; software engineer comes 2nd of 9.
Closest neighbours in the Philadelphia list: Data Scientist at US$109,910 (-17%).
How Philadelphia ranks at the low and high end
The Philadelphia market rewards seniority more than entry: the 90th percentile (US$190,180) ranks 14th of 21, but the 10th (US$82,960) only 15th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$289,150 at the 90th percentile, +52% against Philadelphia.
The software engineer pay range in Philadelphia
Pay is spread out: US$82,960 at the 10th percentile to US$190,180 at the 90th (2.3×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.