Computer Programmer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Computer Programmers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $101,420 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,065 take-home, or $6,422 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$13,482
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,288
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,471
- Pennsylvania income tax$3,114
- Take-home pay$77,065
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
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.
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,280 | $28.02 | $47,219 | $3,935 |
| 25th percentile | $80,660 | $38.78 | $63,098 | $5,258 |
| Median (50th) | $101,420 | $48.76 | $77,065 | $6,422 |
| 75th percentile | $134,710 | $64.76 | $99,205 | $8,267 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,450 | $82.91 | $123,841 | $10,320 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,420 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 computer programmer's $77,065 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,146 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #21 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,420 | $77,065 | $75,146 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median computer programmer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $101,420 a year, or about $48.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,660 and $134,710.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $101,420 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $77,065 a year ($6,422 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,114 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,146 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #21 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer 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) — 24% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Database Architect — $163,590
- Computer Network Architect — $138,850
- Software Developer — $133,040
- Information Security Analyst — $132,560
- Actuary — $127,770
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $121,990
- Data Scientist — $109,910
- Statistician — $105,820
- Computer Systems Analyst — $105,050
- Database Administrator — $104,930
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $104,840
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $102,740