Salary Comparison

Software 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
$172,147
/ year
+10%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$156,912
/ 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
$172,147✓ higher
$156,912
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$111,327✓ higher
$101,474
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$266,195✓ higher
$242,637
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$114,882✓ higher
$105,416
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$149,693✓ higher
$145,289
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$111,327✓ higher
$101,474
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$266,195✓ higher
$242,637

What if you move from Chicago to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$15,235
10% decrease
Take-home change
$9,466
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$4,404
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$172,147
P10: $111,327Median: $172,147P90: $266,195
Philadelphia, PA$156,912
P10: $101,474Median: $156,912P90: $242,637

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Software Engineer earn more in Chicago or Philadelphia?

The median Software Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $172,147/yr compared to $156,912/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Chicago pays 10% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software 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 $149,693/yr in a median-cost city, vs $145,289/yr for Philadelphia. Chicago offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $114,882/yr, vs $105,416/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.