Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ
Philadelphia-Camden is the most expensive place in Pennsylvania to hire a marketing specialist. The median is $79,420 a year[1], 15.5% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $68,760 and about level with the US median of $78,760. Nationally that is #33 of 516 areas, in the top tenth. With about 17,600 marketing specialists, no area in Pennsylvania employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1161, area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Philadelphia-Camden against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | $44,950 | $79,420 | $143,060 | |
| Pennsylvania | $34,160 | $68,760 | $128,810 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Philadelphia-Camden earns $61,260–$109,350. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $143,060, only 3.2 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($89,290) is 12% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,950 | $3,746 | $21.61 | $64,214 |
| 25th percentile | $61,260 | $5,105 | $29.45 | $87,514 |
| Median | $79,420 | $6,618 | $38.18 | $113,457 |
| 75th percentile | $109,350 | $9,112 | $52.57 | $156,214 |
| 90th percentile | $143,060 | $11,922 | $68.78 | $204,371 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $18,160 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $29,930, or about $42,757 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Philadelphia-Camden
At the $79,420 median, a local hire costs about $113,457 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $34,037 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for marketing specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Philadelphia-Camden
Of the 17 roles we track in Philadelphia-Camden, this one ranks #4 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,160 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,030.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +31.2% | 17,210 | |
| Accountant | +8.3% | 29,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | +0.1% | 7,150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 17,600 | |
| Recruiter | -3.4% | 16,000 | |
| Office Manager | -8.5% | 28,900 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -10.6% | 19,260 | |
| Paralegal | -11.3% | 11,150 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -26.0% | 2,410 | |
| Bookkeeper | -33.6% | 22,660 | |
| HR Assistant | -36.0% | 1,630 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -38.5% | 32,850 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -39.2% | 1,220 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -40.7% | 15,550 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -40.7% | 41,740 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -48.0% | 2,340 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -52.1% | 22,210 |
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $50,770 in Johnstown to $79,420 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $28,650 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Philadelphia-Camden | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | this area | 17,600 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -10.0% | 1,560 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -14.7% | 1,400 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -17.0% | 180 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -18.1% | 570 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -18.4% | 990 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -20.4% | 4,940 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ?
About $113,457 a year at the median, or $9,455 a month: $79,420 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for marketing specialists in Philadelphia-Camden?
The median was $79,420 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $44,950, the 90th $143,060, and the middle half earned $61,260 to $109,350.
Is Philadelphia-Camden the most expensive area in Pennsylvania for marketing specialists?
Yes. Its median of $79,420 is the highest of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg-Carlisle comes next at $71,500.
How many marketing specialists work in Philadelphia-Camden?
BLS counts about 17,600 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than a recruiter in Philadelphia-Camden?
Yes: $2,720 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,420 and $76,700.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.