Salary Comparison

Site Reliability 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
$226,490
/ year
+33%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$170,926
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$226,490✓ higher
$170,926
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$146,470✓ higher
$110,537
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$350,227✓ higher
$264,307
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$151,835✓ higher
$114,051
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$161,779✓ higher
$158,265
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$146,470✓ higher
$110,537
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$350,227✓ higher
$264,307

What if you move from Boston to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$55,564
33% decrease
Take-home change
$37,784
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,514
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$226,490
P10: $146,470Median: $226,490P90: $350,227
Philadelphia, PA$170,926
P10: $110,537Median: $170,926P90: $264,307

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Boston or Philadelphia?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $226,490/yr compared to $170,926/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Boston pays 33% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Site Reliability 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 $161,779/yr in a median-cost city, vs $158,265/yr for Philadelphia. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $151,835/yr, vs $114,051/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.