Nominal salary tells you how much money you receive. Cost-of-living-adjusted salary tells you how much that money can actually buy. A $200,000 salary in San Francisco and a $140,000 salary in Austin can provide nearly identical purchasing power. Tax differences are not included.
Where Should I Live?
Nominal vs COL-Adjusted Salary
| # | Location | Median (Nominal) | COL Index | Adjusted | COL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain View, CA | $118,998 | 138.5 | $85,919 | #6 (-5) |
| 2 | Savannah, GA | $114,500 | 91.0 | $125,824 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Moffett Field, CA | $108,742 | 138.5 | $78,514 | #8 (-5) |
| 4 | Everett, WA | $108,160 | 114.6 | $94,380 | #4 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $107,890 | 138.5 | $77,899 | #9 (-4) |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $105,000 | 138.5 | $75,812 | #11 (-5) |
| 7 | PASADENA, CA | $102,400 | 138.5 | $73,935 | #12 (-5) |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $98,702 | 114.6 | $86,127 | #5 (+3) |
| 9 | Chula Vista, CA | $93,350 | 138.5 | $67,401 | #13 (-4) |
| 10 | Wichita, KS | $85,280 | 87.1 | $97,910 | #2 (+8) |
| 11 | Mobile, AL | $83,570 | 87.9 | $95,073 | #3 (+8) |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $78,500 | 101.2 | $77,569 | #10 (+2) |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $75,888 | 91.0 | $83,393 | #7 (+6) |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $62,000 | 102.8 | $60,311 | #14 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Aerospace Engineers is in Mountain View, CA at $118,998, but after cost-of-living adjustment Savannah, GA offers the best purchasing power at $125,824 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Wichita, KS ranks #10 by nominal pay but climbs to #2 once cost of living is factored in (up 8 spots), making its $85,280 go a lot further.
- Beware: Mountain View, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($118,998) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Aerospace Engineers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.