Life Scientists, All Other pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $178,500 or more. The middle half of other life scientists in Philadelphia earn between $76,060 and $146,030.
- $76K10th
- $76K25th
- $96KMedian
- $146K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,200 | $9,517 | $54.90 |
| Median | $96,030 | $8,002 | $46.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,060 | $6,338 | $36.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $146,030 | $12,169 | $70.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Life Scientists, All Other pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Other life scientists in Philadelphia earn 21% more than the Pennsylvania average ($94,010) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($107,860). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $93,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $114,200 | $96,030 | $76,060 | $178,500 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,010 | $83,680 | $62,400 | $167,380 | 290 |
| United States | $107,860 | $93,750 | $58,670 | $186,260 | 7,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Life Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in Philadelphia
On the average salary of $114,200, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $85,664 a year, or $7,139 a month and $3,295 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $85,664 | $7,139 |
| Working in NJ | $84,085 | $7,007 |
| Working in MD | $83,930 | $6,994 |
| Working in DE | $82,864 | $6,905 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for other life scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $114,200 buys what about $111,356 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 3 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$114,200
- Pittsburgh$87,030
- Harrisburg$80,710
Highest-paying cities for other life scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($152,410).
- San Jose, CA$152,410
- San Francisco, CA$139,970
- Washington, DC$139,090
- Phoenix, AZ$135,570
- Charlotte, NC$126,790
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Life Scientists, All Other salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do other life scientists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$54.91 an hour on average, and $46.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other life scientists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other life scientists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $85,664 a year ($7,139 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,200. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do other life scientists earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($107,860).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1099; area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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