Philadelphia Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Philadelphia, PA: $26.11/hr median hourly wage, $54,310 median annual salary, cost of living index 102, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Pennsylvania taxes.
Philadelphia Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Philadelphia, PA is $26.11/hr,and the median annual wage is $54,310. Entry-level pay estimates around $16.19/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $37.08/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area (2,897,830 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Philadelphia shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$54,310
$26.11/hr
Cost of Living
102
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
4.5%
rate
Philadelphia, PA Overview
Population
1,603,797
Median Salary
$54,310
Average Salary
$71,730
Avg Commute
33 min
Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Rent
$1,400/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
8%
Philadelphia is located in Pennsylvania with a population of 1,603,797. The median annual wage across all occupations is $54,310 ($26.11/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro), which is $3,330 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 33 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Philadelphia Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Philadelphia, PA built around the $54,310 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $33,672 | $16.19/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $54,310 | $26.11/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $77,120 | $37.08/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $96,672 | $46.48/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Philadelphia Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$42,092
$3,507.70/month · $1,618.94/biweekly · Effective Rate: 22.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,618.94 take-home per paycheck after estimated Pennsylvania and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$54,310
Federal Tax
-$4,337
State Tax
-$1,667
Local Tax
-$2,058
FICA
-$4,155
Net Pay
$42,092
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,525.83 | $54,310.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$361.43 | -$4,337.20 |
| Pennsylvania State Tax (3.07% eff.) | -$138.94 | -$1,667.32 |
| Local Tax (3.79%) | -$171.53 | -$2,058.35 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$280.60 | -$3,367.22 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$65.62 | -$787.50 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,507.70 | $42,092.42 |
Salary Comparison: Philadelphia vs Other Cities
See how Philadelphia's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102 | $53,245 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Wilmington, DE | $54,310 | 105 | $51,724 |
| Newark, DE | $54,310 | 102 | $53,245 |
| Camden, NJ | $54,310 | 129.1 | $42,068 |
| Abington, PA | $54,310 | 96.9 | $56,047 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 102 (national average = 100). Living in Philadelphia is 2% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Annual Rent Cost
$16,800
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $42,092 annual take-home pay in Philadelphia has the purchasing power of approximately $41,267 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $55,396 in Philadelphia to match a $54,310 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $54,310.
Salary Tips for Philadelphia Workers
- Research top industries. Philadelphia's top industries include Healthcare, Education, Finance. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $54,310 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Philadelphia, PA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Philadelphia. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (82 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Radnor
Reading
Ross Township
Scranton
Shaler
State College
Tredyffrin
Upper Darby
Upper Merion
Warminster
Wayne
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Philadelphia salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Philadelphia indexed at 102.
- Median salary: $54,310 annual, $26.11 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA (2,897,830 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $71,730 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Philadelphia was $60,000.
- Tax burden reflects Pennsylvania 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.07%), plus Philadelphia local tax of 3.79%, sales tax (8%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Philadelphia: 4.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Education, Finance, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Pennsylvania.
- Housing context: median home price $230,000, median rent $1,400/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Philadelphia, PA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Philadelphia unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Philadelphia QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Pennsylvania, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Philadelphia's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Pennsylvania labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Philadelphia, PA?
The median hourly wage in Philadelphia, PA is $26.11 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $54,310. Entry-level workers are estimated around $16.19/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $37.08/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Philadelphia, PA?
The median salary in Philadelphia, PA is $54,310 per year, or $26.11 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area). The BLS mean salary is $71,730. This is $3,330 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Philadelphia, PA?
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 102 (national average = 100), meaning it is 2% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $230,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,400.
What are the best industries in Philadelphia?
The top industries in Philadelphia, PA include Healthcare, Education, Finance. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $54,310.
How does Philadelphia's salary compare to other cities?
Philadelphia's median salary of $54,310 is 6.5% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 102), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,245.
What is the minimum wage in Philadelphia, PA?
The minimum wage in Philadelphia, PA is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.