Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Miami, FL vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Miami, FL
$170,070
/ year
+9%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$155,581
/ year
Bottom line: Philadelphia offers better purchasing power despite Miami paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Miami
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,070โœ“ higher
$155,581
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$109,983โœ“ higher
$100,614
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$262,983โœ“ higher
$240,579
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$113,469โœ“ higher
$104,613
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$141,725
$144,056โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.20ร—
1.08ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$109,983โœ“ higher
$100,614
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$262,983โœ“ higher
$240,579

What if you move from Miami to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$14,489
9% decrease
Take-home change
$8,856
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$2,331
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Miami, FL$170,070
P10: $109,983Median: $170,070P90: $262,983
Philadelphia, PA$155,581
P10: $100,614Median: $155,581P90: $240,579

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Data Engineer earn more in Miami or Philadelphia?

The median Data Engineer salary in Miami, FL is $170,070/yr compared to $155,581/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Miami pays 9% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Data Engineer salary worth more in Miami or Philadelphia after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Miami salary has the purchasing power of $141,725/yr in a median-cost city, vs $144,056/yr for Philadelphia. Philadelphia offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Miami vs Philadelphia?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Miami, FL takes home approximately $113,469/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.