Salary Comparison

Data Scientist 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
$170,251
/ year
+29%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$132,232
/ 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
$170,251✓ higher
$132,232
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$110,101✓ higher
$85,514
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$263,263✓ higher
$204,473
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$113,592✓ higher
$90,522
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$121,608
$122,437✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$110,101✓ higher
$85,514
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$263,263✓ higher
$204,473

What if you move from Boston to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$38,019
29% decrease
Take-home change
$23,070
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$829
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$170,251
P10: $110,101Median: $170,251P90: $263,263
Philadelphia, PA$132,232
P10: $85,514Median: $132,232P90: $204,473

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Data Scientist salary in Boston, MA is $170,251/yr compared to $132,232/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Boston pays 29% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Scientist 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 $121,608/yr in a median-cost city, vs $122,437/yr for Philadelphia. Philadelphia offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in Boston, MA takes home approximately $113,592/yr, vs $90,522/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.