Social and Human Service Assistant Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Social and Human Service Assistants in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $45,370 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,242 take-home, or $3,103 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median social and human service assistant salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,264
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,813
- Medicare (1.45%)$658
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,393
- Take-home pay$37,242
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,697 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $35,545 ($2,962 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 →
Social and Human Service Assistant pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,090 | $17.35 | $30,070 | $2,506 |
| 25th percentile | $38,420 | $18.47 | $31,871 | $2,656 |
| Median (50th) | $45,370 | $21.81 | $37,242 | $3,103 |
| 75th percentile | $49,740 | $23.91 | $40,619 | $3,385 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,600 | $29.62 | $49,784 | $4,149 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,370 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 social and human service assistant's $37,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,314 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.5× the national concentration of social and human service assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for social and human service assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #23 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $58,090 | $48,855 | $43,961 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $49,150 | $41,672 | $42,494 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $45,860 | $37,810 | $40,857 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $53,810 | $43,439 | $40,723 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,550 | $38,239 | $39,959 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $57,580 | $46,193 | $39,955 |
| 7 | Syracuse, NY | $47,330 | $38,251 | $39,952 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $46,100 | $39,221 | $39,767 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,370 | $37,242 | $36,314 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: social and human service assistants
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Social and Human Service Assistant salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $43,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social and human service assistant make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median social and human service assistant salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $45,370 a year, or about $21.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,420 and $49,740.
What is a social and human service assistant’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $45,370 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $37,242 a year ($3,103 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,393 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a social and human service assistant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $45,930. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,314 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #23 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a social and human service assistant 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) — 49% of a median social and human service assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.