Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in Philadelphia
By the end of this year, experts estimate that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will have a GDP per capita of $66,941. The city’s GDP has steadily increased over the last decade, and that trend is likely to continue in the coming years.
Philadelphia’s job market is also moving in a positive direction. Lots of positions are opening up throughout the city, including many high-paying ones.
Are you looking for work in Philadelphia? Whether you’re already employed and trying to make a career change or are a student planning for the future, keep reading.
This guide breaks down the highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia, as well as the highest-paying industries in Philadelphia and the highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia for fresh graduates. You’ll learn about the kinds of degrees that will help you qualify for these positions, too.
What Salary Is Considered Rich in Philadelphia?
Before we discuss the best-paid jobs in Philadelphia, let’s talk about the cost of living in this city.
The average salary for a Philadelphia resident is $61,584 per year. This is close to the average salary in the United States, and it lines up with the cost of living in the city, which is just slightly higher than average (relative to the entire country).
A person making the average salary in Philadelphia can live fairly comfortably in Philadelphia. For example, a family of four’s approximate monthly expenses are around $3,823 (not including rent), and a single person’s approximate monthly expenses are around $1,067 (not including rent).
Philadelphia is clearly quite a bit cheaper than other metropolitan areas. For example, it’s 20.10 percent less expensive to live here than in New York, and Philadelphia’s rental prices are 52.71 percent lower than New York’s.
With all that information in mind, it’s safe to say that a salary of over $100,000 per year would likely be considered “rich” in Philadelphia. The closer you get to $150,000 to $200,000 per year, though, you will probably have more disposable income and more of a safety net.
What Is the #1 Highest-Paid Position in Philadelphia?
Now, let’s break down some of the best-paid jobs in Philadelphia. The number one highest-paid position in this city is an obstetrician and gynecologist (or OB-GYN).
An OB-GYN is a type of doctor who cares for women before and during their pregnancies, as well as immediately after giving birth. OB-GYNs provide other services, too, including prescribing birth control and offering care to women during menopause.
The average salary for an OB-GYN in Philadelphia is $281,390 per year — more than 4 times the average salary for a Philadelphia resident. The average entry-level salary for these physicians is quite generous, too, at $188,920 (about 3 times the average salary in Philadelphia).
If a career as an OB-GYN isn’t ideal for you, you can still earn a good living in the Philadelphia area. Listed below are the top 20 highest-paying jobs in this city, ranked from lowest to highest salary.
20. Purchasing Managers: Average Salary $154,860 per year
19. General and Operations Managers: Average Salary $155,110 per year
18. Marketing Managers: Average Salary $157,410 per year
17. Architectural and Engineering Managers: Average Salary $159,770 per year
16. Natural Sciences Managers: Average Salary $160,830 per year
15. Computer and Information Systems Managers: Average Salary $161,290 per year
14. Specialist Dentists: Average Salary $161,670 per year
13. Sales Managers: Average Salary $163,620 per year
12. General Dentists: Average Salary $169,240 per year
11. Financial Managers: Average Salary $171,030 per year
10. Nurse Anesthetists: Average Salary $197,320 per year
9. Psychiatrists: Average Salary $198,950 per year
8. Family Medicine Physicians: Average Salary $214,040 per year
7. General Pediatricians: Average Salary $216,370 per year
6. Other Physicians and Ophthalmologists: Average Salary $230,370 per year
5. Chief Executive Officers: Average Salary $239,470 per year
4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Average Salary $253,380 per year
3. General Internal Medicine Physicians: Average Salary $255,350 per year
2. Surgeons: Average Salary $265,680 per year
1. Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Average Salary $281,390 per year
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Philadelphia
If you’re still not sure what kind of job you want to have in this city but you know you want to earn a high salary, it can also be helpful to know about the highest-paying industries in Philadelphia.
Listed below are the top 5 highest-paying industries here, complete with a list of the top 3 careers in each field, plus a breakdown of the current job prospects.
Understandably, the healthcare industry is one of Philadelphia’s highest-paying industries. For doctors, surgeons, and even nurses, many of the best-paid jobs in this city can be found and hospitals and healthcare clinics.
Top 3 Careers
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Average Salary $281,390 per year
- Surgeons: Average Salary $265,680 per year
- General Internal Medicine Physicians: Average Salary $255,350 per year
Job Prospects: The job prospects for healthcare workers in Philadelphia are very promising. There is a high demand for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, so it’s easy to find jobs (and high-paying ones at that). If you’re looking for a job in the healthcare industry here, you’ll likely be able to get hired right away.
For those with a business background — and, more particularly, management experience — there are plenty of high-paying jobs to be found in the Philadelphia area. After all, many prominent companies are based out of this city, including Aramark and Comcast.
Top 3 Careers
- Chief Executive Officers: Average Salary $239,470 per year
- Sales Managers: Average Salary $163,620 per year
- Marketing Managers: Average Salary $157,410 per year
Job Prospects: With so many businesses — from small startups to major corporations — operating out of Philadelphia, the job prospects for those who want to work in the business management sector are quite good. It’s relatively easy to find a job in this industry here, whether you’re looking for a management position or more of an entry-level job.
As is the case in much of the United States, the information technology industry is one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying industries in Philadelphia. If you have a background in computer science, web development, coding, or a related field, you will find that there are plenty of high-paying jobs here.
Top 3 Careers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers: Average Salary $161,290 per year
- Computer Network Architects: Average Salary $127,830 per year
- Computer and Information Research Scientists: Average Salary $125,940 per year
Job Prospects: Because the information technology industry is growing so rapidly, the job prospects for professionals in this field look quite promising. Lots of businesses are looking for help from computer experts to help them bring their companies into the 21st century and maximize productivity, so you’ll likely be able to find a job very quickly in Philadelphia.
The finance sector is generally one of the highest-paying industries in the United States, and Philadelphia is no exception to this rule. If you have a background in accounting, financial management, financial advisement, or a related field, there are plenty of jobs to be found here.
Top 3 Careers
- Financial Managers: Average Salary $171,030 per year
- Financial and Investment Analysts: Average Salary $103,630 per year
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: Average Salary $102,950 per year
Job Prospects: In Philadelphia, the job prospects for folks in the finance industry are very promising. Lots of businesses here can benefit from financial experts to help them manage their funds and make wise investments. You’ll likely find that you can get hired very quickly here if you have the right training and experience.
The engineering industry in Philadelphia also has a lot to offer in terms of salaries and benefits. All engineers can earn high salaries here, especially as they work their way up to management positions.
Top 3 Careers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers: Average Salary $159,770 per year
- Chemical Engineers: Average Salary $122,250 per year
- Computer Hardware Engineers: Average Salary $121,950 per year
Job Prospects: Nearly all types of engineers can earn generous salaries and find work quite easily in Philadelphia. Your job prospects look very good if you’re an engineer looking to relocate or make a career change in this city, and you’ll likely get hired quickly here once you start your job search.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Philadelphia for Fresh Graduates
The list of the highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia for fresh graduates looks a bit different than the list of the top 20 highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia for all professionals. After all, most recent graduates aren’t going to leave school and immediately land a job as a manager or director.
Are you a student who wants to earn a good living right out of college? If so, here are 5 of the best careers to consider pursuing:
Because obstetricians and gynecologists are the highest-paid professionals in Philadelphia (both in general and in the medical community), it makes sense that this is one of the best-paid jobs for fresh graduates. Even as an entry-level OB-GYN, you can earn an average salary of $188,920 per year.
Because OB-GYNs are in such high demand throughout the city (and the country), they can earn high salaries right away. Some other medical professionals have to work for quite a while before they reach their full earning potential.
The downside to becoming an OB-GYN is that it takes quite a while to finish school and start practicing. You’ll need to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree, 4 years of medical school, and a residency that lasts 3 to 7 years before your training is finished. It’s not an easy path, but it’s worth it to earn such a high salary right out of school.
Another healthcare career that offers a high salary right out of school is a career as a general internal medicine physician. The average entry-level salary for this career is $150,160 per year, so it’s more than double the average salary for a Philadelphia resident.
General internal medicine physicians specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases that affect the internal organs, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver.
To start working in this field, you’ll first need to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree and 4 years of medical school. A 3-year residency is required as well.
As is the case for OB-GYNs, it’s not an easy or short path to becoming a general internal medicine physician, but it’s worth it to earn such a high salary as a fresh graduate.
A nurse anesthetist is an advanced nursing professional. They work alongside anesthesiologists and are responsible for administering anesthesia during surgeries and making sure patients stay asleep and pain-free while being operated on.
Because nurse anesthetists have such important jobs, they are paid very well right out of school.
The average entry-level salary for this position is $106,120 per year (about 1.5 times the average salary for a Philadelphia resident). Over time, you can earn a lot more than this, too, and work your way up to an average salary of $197,320 per year.
To become a nurse anesthetist, you will need to complete a 4-year bachelor’s of science degree in nursing, as well as a 2-year master’s degree specializing in anesthesiology. This career path is a lot shorter than some other medical career paths, but it still provides a high salary and lots of job opportunities.
If you want to work in the healthcare field but aren’t interested in working one-on-one with patients, a career as a pharmacist might be a good fit. Pharmacists are responsible for filling prescriptions and advising patients who pick up their medications at the pharmacy.
To become a pharmacist, you have two options. The first is to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree and then spend 4 years earning your doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree. The second option is to participate in a dual degree pharmacy program, which takes 6 years and allows you to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a PharmD in a shorter time frame.
It doesn’t take as long to become a pharmacist as it does some of the other careers on this list, especially if you participate in a dual degree program. Another bonus is that you can earn a high salary right after graduating.
The average entry-level salary for a pharmacist is $88,880 per year, which is quite a bit more than the average salary in Philadelphia. Over time, you can earn over $100,000 per year in this profession, too.
If a career in the information technology sector is more enticing to you, consider working as a computer network architect. Computer network architects are responsible for designing and building data communication networks.
The average entry-level salary for this job is $74,870 per year, and over time you can work your way up to an average salary of $127,830 per year.
You typically only need a bachelor’s degree to get started in this field, too. This means you can start earning a high salary sooner than you can with many other careers listed in this guide.
What Degree Pays Most in Philadelphia?
If you want to qualify for one of the best-paid jobs in Philadelphia, you will definitely need a college degree (at least a bachelor’s degree). This table breaks down some of the best degree types that will help you to earn a high salary and enjoy a comfortable life in Philadelphia.
Degree Type | Potential Salary |
Medical | $281,390 per year |
Business Management | $239,470 per year |
Nursing | $197,320 per year |
Pharmaceutical | $129,300 per year |
Computer Science | $127,830 per year |
Of course, these numbers are just estimated based on the current average salaries in Philadelphia.
There’s no guarantee that you will earn a specific salary if you obtain one of these degrees. However, your chances of bringing in a good living go up significantly if you receive an education in one of the fields outlined above.
Apply for the Highest-Paying Jobs in Philadelphia Today
Are you interested in one of the highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia? Whether you want to pursue a career in the medical field or a job as a network architect, there are lots of lucrative positions in this city worth considering.
Start working on your skills today so you can qualify for one of these jobs. If you need help finding open positions once you’ve mastered the necessary skills, GrabJobs is here for you.
Our easy-to-use search tool makes it easier than ever to find jobs in your preferred field, and you can narrow down your options based on salary, experience requirements, education requirements, and more.
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