Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Pennsylvania make a median of $89,180 a year, or about $42.87 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $93,903 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $89K get you in Pennsylvania?
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for computer programmers in Pennsylvania runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Pennsylvania can be a reasonable trade-off for computer programmerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $101K | +14% | 1,770 |
| Reading | $99K | +11% | 60 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $94K | +5% | 120 |
| York-Hanover | $92K | +3% | 80 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $88K | -1% | 130 |
| State College | $88K | -2% | 40 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $86K | -3% | 140 |
| Pittsburgh | $85K | -4% | 420 |
| Lancaster | $84K | -6% | 100 |
| Erie | $78K | -12% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track computer programmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,604/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $89K here vs. $100K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Pennsylvania pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $89,180 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,070, and experienced computer programmers can clear $134,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,699/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $93,903 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.