Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Chicago, IL
$166,371
/ year
+7%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$155,581
/ year
Bottom line: Chicago wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$166,371✓ higher
$155,581
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$107,591✓ higher
$100,614
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$257,263✓ higher
$240,579
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$111,124✓ higher
$104,613
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$144,670✓ higher
$144,056
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$107,591✓ higher
$100,614
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$257,263✓ higher
$240,579

What if you move from Chicago to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$10,790
7% decrease
Take-home change
$6,511
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$614
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

Chicago, IL$166,371
P10: $107,591Median: $166,371P90: $257,263
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 Chicago or Philadelphia?

The median Data Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $166,371/yr compared to $155,581/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Chicago pays 7% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Chicago salary has the purchasing power of $144,670/yr in a median-cost city, vs $144,056/yr for Philadelphia. Chicago offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $111,124/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.