Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Denver, CO
$166,887
/ year
+6%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$156,912
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$166,887✓ higher
$156,912
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$107,925✓ higher
$101,474
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$258,061✓ higher
$242,637
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$111,436✓ higher
$105,416
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$146,392✓ higher
$145,289
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$107,925✓ higher
$101,474
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$258,061✓ higher
$242,637

What if you move from Denver to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$9,975
6% decrease
Take-home change
$6,020
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,103
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

Denver, CO$166,887
P10: $107,925Median: $166,887P90: $258,061
Philadelphia, PA$156,912
P10: $101,474Median: $156,912P90: $242,637

More Software Engineer salary comparisons

Denver vs New YorkDenver vs Los AngelesDenver vs ChicagoDenver vs HoustonDenver vs PhoenixDenver vs San AntonioAll Software Engineer salaries →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Software Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $166,887/yr compared to $156,912/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Denver pays 6% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software Engineer salary worth more in Denver or Philadelphia after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $146,392/yr in a median-cost city, vs $145,289/yr for Philadelphia. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $111,436/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.