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 | ARCADIA, CA | $24,565 | 138.5 | $17,736 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | ELMONT, NE | $24,565 | 90.8 | $27,054 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Elkton, MA | $22,048 | 146.5 | $15,050 | #3 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Animal Caretakers is in ARCADIA, CA at $24,565, but after cost-of-living adjustment ELMONT, NE offers the best purchasing power at $27,054 equivalent.
- Beware: ARCADIA, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($24,565) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #2 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Animal Caretakers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.