Human Resources Specialist Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Human Resources Specialists in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $76,700 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,434 take-home, or $5,036 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources specialist salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,044
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,755
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,112
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,355
- Take-home pay$60,434
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,869 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $57,565 ($4,797 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 →
Human Resources Specialist pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,080 | $23.60 | $40,109 | $3,342 |
| 25th percentile | $60,680 | $29.17 | $49,074 | $4,089 |
| Median (50th) | $76,700 | $36.88 | $60,434 | $5,036 |
| 75th percentile | $98,820 | $47.51 | $75,316 | $6,276 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,900 | $61.01 | $94,106 | $7,842 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,700 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 human resources specialist's $60,434 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,929 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Specialist jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for human resources specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #36 of 62 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $112,140 | $80,063 | $72,506 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $100,830 | $74,162 | $68,111 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $92,770 | $74,094 | $66,671 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $81,100 | $63,157 | $64,728 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $103,140 | $74,686 | $64,600 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $75,190 | $59,130 | $63,894 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $72,930 | $60,136 | $63,491 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $75,440 | $60,610 | $63,486 |
| 36 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,700 | $60,434 | $58,929 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 62 metros →
About the job: human resources specialists
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Human Resources Specialist salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg, PA — $70,140
- Pittsburgh, PA — $65,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median human resources specialist salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $76,700 a year, or about $36.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,680 and $98,820.
What is a human resources specialist’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $76,700 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $60,434 a year ($5,036 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,355 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a human resources specialist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $75,940. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,929 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #36 of 62 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources specialist 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) — 30% of a median human resources specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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