2026 Salary Data
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Philadelphia, PALIVE
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There's no single citywide pay scale for software engineers the way there is for Philadelphia's public school teachers — pay is set employer by employer, and varies widely by level, stack, and industry. Entry-level engineers in Philadelphia report an average of about $128,339 a year; reported averages across all levels run roughly $105,000–$175,000 depending on the data source, and Senior Software Engineers average around $199,087. This guide breaks down pay by level and title, then shows what a Philadelphia software engineer salary actually looks like after federal, state, and local taxes.
Unlike a union-negotiated schedule, "software engineer salary in Philadelphia" isn't one number — it changes based on level, job title, employer, and industry. Reported averages swing from roughly $105,000 (broad, job-posting-based averages that mix junior and contract roles) up to $175,000+ (level-specific averages weighted toward mid-size and larger employers). If you're comparing an offer, the most useful comparison is against your specific level and title, not a single citywide figure.
Philadelphia's tech employer base includes large in-house engineering teams at companies like Comcast, SAP, Vanguard, and Independence Blue Cross, fast-growing local companies like Gopuff, and financial-services and healthcare firms that increasingly compete for engineering talent alongside dedicated tech companies — which is part of why pay varies so much by industry within the same job title.
Pay climbs fast with level in software engineering — more so than in many other professions. Here's how average total pay breaks down by title and seniority in Philadelphia:
| Level / Title | Average | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Software Engineer | $128,339 | $104,337 – $159,784 |
| Associate Software Engineer | $132,707 | $113,366 – $158,336 |
| Software Engineer II | $152,449 | $133,252 – $177,709 |
| Software Engineer III | $175,844 | $150,142 – $209,083 |
| Senior Software Engineer | $199,087 | $161,428 – $249,421 |
Source: Glassdoor Philadelphia, PA salary pages by title, 2026 (self-reported pay data). Top earners at the senior level report up to $303,408 (90th percentile); at the entry level, top reports reach $193,590. Titles and leveling ladders differ by company, so treat these as directional bands rather than an exact match to any one employer's internal levels.
"Software Engineer" and "Software Developer" are used somewhat differently across Philadelphia job postings, and the reported averages reflect that:
25th–75th percentile range across all levels
Range: $95,481–$155,802
Job-posting based, all levels blended
Range: $161,428–$249,421
"Software Developer" postings tend to skew toward a broader mix of company sizes and industries than "Software Engineer," which pulls its average down somewhat. Neither title reliably means a different job — the gap is mostly about who's posting under each title, not a formal distinction.
Industry matters as much as title. Financial services consistently reports some of the highest median total pay for software engineers in the Philadelphia area, reflecting the presence of large asset managers and insurers that compete for engineering talent against dedicated tech employers. Retail & wholesale and telecommunications — driven by large local employers with sizable in-house engineering teams — also report strong median pay at the senior level. Industries like information technology services and media & communication tend to report somewhat more moderate averages, though this varies a lot by individual employer and specific role.
Once you know your salary from the ranges above, the next question is what lands in your bank account. Philadelphia adds its own resident Wage Tax on top of Pennsylvania's flat state tax and federal withholding — the calculator below runs the full breakdown for any salary, bonus, or filing status.
On a $130,000 software engineer salary — near the entry-to-mid-level average — a single filer nets approximately $91,112 a year (about $7,593/month or $3,504 every two weeks) after federal tax, Pennsylvania's 3.07% state tax, Philadelphia's 3.75% resident Wage Tax, and FICA — roughly 29.9% going to taxes. Use the calculator below to plug in your own salary, level, or offer.
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Estimates only, based on 2026 IRS federal brackets and standard deduction, Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% income tax, the 2026 PA employee UC (SUI) rate of 0.07%, Philadelphia's 3.75% resident Wage Tax, and 2026 FICA figures ($184,500 Social Security wage base). Not tax or legal advice. Equity compensation, sign-on bonuses, and relocation packages vary by employer and are not fully modeled here.
Actual engineering pay varies by employer and isn't set by city government — this isn't a claim about what engineers are paid elsewhere. It holds a $130,000 salary constant and isolates just the effect of each city's local wage tax, since federal, state, SUI, and FICA are identical everywhere in PA.
| City | Local Rate | Annual Take-Home (same $130,000 salary) |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 3.75% | $91,112 |
| Pittsburgh | 3.00% | $91,844 (+$732) |
| Allentown | 1.975% | $92,846 (+$1,734) |
See the Salaries hub for more salary-and-city combinations, the Teacher Salary in Philadelphia guide for a comparable public-sector salary breakdown, or use the Salary Comparison Tool to compare two cities directly. If a signing bonus or relocation package is part of your offer, the Bonus Calculator can estimate its after-tax value separately.