Average Teacher Salary in Philadelphia, PA

The average Teacher in Philadelphia, PA earns $77,180 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$77180
Median Salary
$79500
vs. National
4.6% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$75258

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Philadelphia’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 102.554, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Teachers actually earn in Philadelphia

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $51170
25th $61400
Median $79500
75th $93740
90th (top) $102240

21620 Teachers employed in the Philadelphia metro.

Can a Teacher afford a home in Philadelphia?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Philadelphia home: $232400.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$51170$20559088%
Median$79500$319414Yes
Top (90th)$102240$410779Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Teacher in Philadelphia

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and PA state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Philadelphia at a glance

Population1582432
Median household income$60698
Median home value$232400
Median rent$1323/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)102.554
Bachelor’s degree or higher19.4%
Poverty rate21.4%

In Philadelphia, PA, Teachers earn a median of $79,500 a year — about 8% above the U.S. median of $73,800. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #17.

What that pay is worth in Philadelphia

Local prices run 103 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $77,180 salary buys less than it looks — about $75,258 in national-average buying power.

Can Teachers afford a home in Philadelphia?

A typical Philadelphia home runs about $232,400 — 3.0 times the average Teacher salary, manageable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,323/mo takes roughly 21% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Teacher pay ladder in Philadelphia

Entry-level (10th percentile) Teachers earn about $51,170; the top 10% reach $102,240 — a $51,070 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Teacher job market in Philadelphia

Philadelphia employs roughly 21,620 Teachers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Philadelphia with other cities

See the full Teacher salary by city ranking to weigh Philadelphia against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Teachers make in Philadelphia?

The average Teacher in Philadelphia, PA earns about $77,180 per year, 4.6% above the national average of $73,800.

What is the take-home pay for Teachers in Philadelphia after taxes?

After federal and PA taxes, this $77,180 salary is worth about $60,756 a year - roughly $5,063 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 21%.

What do the highest-paid Teachers earn in Philadelphia?

The top 10% of Teachers in Philadelphia earn about $102,240 a year, versus about $51,170 for the bottom 10%.

Can Teachers afford a home in Philadelphia?

A typical Philadelphia home runs about $232,400 - roughly 3.0x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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