Chief Executive Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Chief Executives in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $239,200+ a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $201,659 take-home, or $16,805 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$65,604
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$5,080
- Pennsylvania income tax$8,988
- Take-home pay$201,659
Marginal rate: 35% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $10,950 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $190,710 ($15,892 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chief Executive pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $124,800 | $60.00 | $92,735 | $7,728 |
| 25th percentile | $181,280 | $87.15 | $129,606 | $10,800 |
| Median (50th) | $292,770+ | $140.75 | $201,659 | $16,805 |
| 75th percentile | $450,160+ | $216.42 | $295,432 | $24,619 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $546,180+ | $262.59 | $352,641 | $29,387 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $239,200+ buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $201,659 take-home pay has the buying power of $196,637 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #3 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $239,200+ | $201,659 | $196,637 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $239,200+ | $186,336 | $186,228 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $239,200+ | $198,593 | $176,428 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $239,200+ | $181,719 | $157,179 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $238,440 | $154,548 | $138,128 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $209,980 | $142,627 | $136,066 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
About the job: chief executives
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median chief executive salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $239,200+ a year, or about $140.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $181,280 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $239,200+ salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $201,659 a year ($16,805 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,988 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $196,637 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #3 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 9% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $173,470
- Natural Sciences Manager — $172,900
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $171,140
- Financial Manager — $166,920
- Marketing Manager — $166,310
- Sales Manager — $156,500
- Human Resources Manager — $154,490
- Managers, All Other — $140,750
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $129,130
- Industrial Production Manager — $126,160
- Construction Manager — $124,990
- Administrative Services Manager — $124,850