Tax Preparers pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,570 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Philadelphia earn between $40,680 and $80,660.
- $34K10th
- $41K25th
- $62KMedian
- $81K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,730 | $5,728 | $33.04 |
| Median | $62,010 | $5,168 | $29.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,680 | $3,390 | $19.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,660 | $6,722 | $38.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Philadelphia earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($66,780) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $68,730 | $62,010 | $34,150 | $103,570 | 1,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,780 | $61,270 | $31,200 | $103,570 | 2,010 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Philadelphia
On the average salary of $68,730, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $55,072 a year, or $4,589 a month and $2,118 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 | $55,072 | $4,589 |
| Working in NJ | $54,932 | $4,578 |
| Working in MD | $54,128 | $4,511 |
| Working in DE | $53,876 | $4,490 |
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 tax preparers? 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 $68,730 buys what about $67,018 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 6 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$68,730
- Pittsburgh$66,620
- Erie$62,440
- Lancaster$61,510
- Harrisburg$60,600
- Scranton$48,190
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Philadelphia?
$33.04 an hour on average, and $29.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $55,072 a year ($4,589 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,730. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do tax preparers earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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