Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Philadelphia, PA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$194,297
/ year
+25%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$155,581
/ year
Bottom line: Philadelphia offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$194,297✓ higher
$155,581
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$125,651✓ higher
$100,614
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$300,446✓ higher
$240,579
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$129,944✓ higher
$104,613
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$138,784
$144,056✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$125,651✓ higher
$100,614
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$300,446✓ higher
$240,579

What if you move from Boston to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$38,716
25% decrease
Take-home change
$25,331
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$5,272
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$194,297
P10: $125,651Median: $194,297P90: $300,446
Philadelphia, PA$155,581
P10: $100,614Median: $155,581P90: $240,579

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Boston or Philadelphia?

The median Data Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $194,297/yr compared to $155,581/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Boston pays 25% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Boston or Philadelphia after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $138,784/yr in a median-cost city, vs $144,056/yr for Philadelphia. Philadelphia offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Boston vs Philadelphia?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $129,944/yr, vs $104,613/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.