Salary Comparison

Product Designer 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
$180,337
/ year
+33%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$135,996
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$180,337โœ“ higher
$135,996
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$116,623โœ“ higher
$87,948
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$278,859โœ“ higher
$210,294
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$120,451โœ“ higher
$92,793
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$128,812โœ“ higher
$125,922
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
1.08ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$116,623โœ“ higher
$87,948
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$278,859โœ“ higher
$210,294

What if you move from Boston to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$44,341
33% decrease
Take-home change
$27,658
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,890
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

Boston, MA$180,337
P10: $116,623Median: $180,337P90: $278,859
Philadelphia, PA$135,996
P10: $87,948Median: $135,996P90: $210,294

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Product Designer earn more in Boston or Philadelphia?

The median Product Designer salary in Boston, MA is $180,337/yr compared to $135,996/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Boston pays 33% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Product Designer 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 $128,812/yr in a median-cost city, vs $125,922/yr for Philadelphia. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Product Designer in Boston vs Philadelphia?

After estimated taxes, a Product Designer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $120,451/yr, vs $92,793/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.