Mark_Kostich // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Medical dosimetrists
- Median annual wage: $129,660
- Median hourly wage: $62.34
- Total employment: Not available
Highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $130,240
- Median hourly wage: $62.62
- Total employment: 3,000 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $130,670
- Median hourly wage: $62.82
- Total employment: 26,150 people (9.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $130,750
- Median hourly wage: $62.86
- Total employment: 910 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $131,590
- Median hourly wage: $63.27
- Total employment: 5,780 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Physical scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $132,750
- Median hourly wage: $63.82
- Total employment: 260 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $133,340
- Median hourly wage: $64.11
- Total employment: 1,660 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $133,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $133,970
- Median hourly wage: $64.41
- Total employment: 840 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $134,610
- Median hourly wage: $64.72
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Lobanov // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Nuclear engineers
- Median annual wage: $136,590
- Median hourly wage: $65.67
- Total employment: 240 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $137,880
- Median hourly wage: $66.29
- Total employment: 480 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,960
- Median hourly wage: $66.33
- Total employment: 7,070 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $138,940
- Median hourly wage: $66.80
- Total employment: 13,830 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $139,400
- Median hourly wage: $67.02
- Total employment: 600 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $139,550
- Median hourly wage: $67.09
- Total employment: 780 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $143,110
- Median hourly wage: $68.80
- Total employment: 1,200 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $144,450
- Median hourly wage: $69.45
- Total employment: 4,220 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $144,910
- Median hourly wage: $69.67
- Total employment: 9,020 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $148,030
- Median hourly wage: $71.17
- Total employment: 18,270 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $152,380
- Median hourly wage: $73.26
- Total employment: 1,420 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $160,750
- Median hourly wage: $77.29
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $161,340
- Median hourly wage: $77.57
- Total employment: 7,270 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $164,340
- Median hourly wage: $79.01
- Total employment: 18,270 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $165,730
- Median hourly wage: $79.68
- Total employment: 320 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $166,850
- Median hourly wage: $80.22
- Total employment: 4,400 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $168,360
- Median hourly wage: $80.94
- Total employment: 4,700 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $170,330
- Median hourly wage: $81.89
- Total employment: 12,820 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Median annual wage: $172,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,230 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $174,220
- Median hourly wage: $83.76
- Total employment: 2,090 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $179,220
- Median hourly wage: $86.16
- Total employment: 8,290 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $181,200
- Median hourly wage: $87.12
- Total employment: 190 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $200,150
- Median hourly wage: $96.23
- Total employment: 220 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $202,290
- Median hourly wage: $97.26
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $215,060
- Median hourly wage: $103.39
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $220,310
- Median hourly wage: $105.92
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $236,740
- Median hourly wage: $113.82
- Total employment: 600 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
38 / 50#1. Orthodontists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
39 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Tijana Simic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 400 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 610 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,740 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Chief executives (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 6,740 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 780 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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