Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
New York, NY vs Philadelphia, PA

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

New York, NY
$208,353
/ year
+33%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$156,912
/ year
Bottom line: Philadelphia offers better purchasing power despite New York paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
New York
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$208,353✓ higher
$156,912
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$134,741✓ higher
$101,474
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$322,181✓ higher
$242,637
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$139,502✓ higher
$105,416
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$143,692
$145,289✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.45×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$134,741✓ higher
$101,474
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$322,181✓ higher
$242,637

What if you move from New York to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$51,441
33% decrease
Take-home change
$34,086
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$1,597
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

New York, NY$208,353
P10: $134,741Median: $208,353P90: $322,181
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 New York or Philadelphia?

The median Software Engineer salary in New York, NY is $208,353/yr compared to $156,912/yr in Philadelphia, PA. New York pays 33% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your New York salary has the purchasing power of $143,692/yr in a median-cost city, vs $145,289/yr for Philadelphia. Philadelphia offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in New York, NY takes home approximately $139,502/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.