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 | San Jose, CA | $61,502 | 138.5 | $44,405 | #10 (-9) |
| 2 | BERKELEY, CA | $58,240 | 138.5 | $42,051 | #13 (-11) |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $58,000 | 138.5 | $41,877 | #14 (-11) |
| 4 | New York, NE | $57,824 | 90.8 | $63,683 | #1 (+3) |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $56,160 | 138.5 | $40,549 | #16 (-11) |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $54,040 | 138.5 | $39,018 | #19 (-13) |
| 7 | BROOKLYN, NE | $53,800 | 90.8 | $59,251 | #2 (+5) |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $53,498 | 146.5 | $36,517 | #26 (-18) |
| 9 | Somerville, MA | $53,000 | 146.5 | $36,177 | #27 (-18) |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | $52,395 | 112.8 | $46,449 | #8 (+2) |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $52,000 | 138.5 | $37,545 | #20 (-9) |
| 12 | Alameda, CA | $52,000 | 138.5 | $37,545 | #21 (-9) |
| 13 | PASADENA, CA | $52,000 | 138.5 | $37,545 | #22 (-9) |
| 14 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $51,740 | 138.5 | $37,357 | #23 (-9) |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,272 | 138.5 | $37,019 | #24 (-9) |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $51,000 | 146.0 | $34,932 | #28 (-12) |
| 17 | Cambridge, MA | $50,200 | 146.5 | $34,266 | #30 (-13) |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $49,858 | 114.6 | $43,506 | #12 (+6) |
| 19 | New York, NY | $49,000 | 125.1 | $39,169 | #18 (+1) |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $48,640 | 105.5 | $46,104 | #9 (+11) |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,155 | 95.6 | $50,371 | #4 (+17) |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,507 | 108.4 | $43,826 | #11 (+11) |
| 23 | Culver City, CA | $47,500 | 138.5 | $34,296 | #29 (-6) |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $46,501 | 92.3 | $50,380 | #3 (+21) |
| 25 | Brooklyn, NY | $46,000 | 125.1 | $36,771 | #25 |
| 26 | DALLAS, TX | $46,000 | 92.7 | $49,622 | #6 (+20) |
| 27 | Baltimore, MD | $45,994 | 116.5 | $39,479 | #17 (+10) |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $45,550 | 91.0 | $50,055 | #5 (+23) |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $44,637 | 92.7 | $48,152 | #7 (+22) |
| 30 | Orlando, FL | $42,500 | 102.8 | $41,342 | #15 (+15) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Architectural and Civil Drafters is in San Jose, CA at $61,502, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $63,683 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Atlanta, GA ranks #28 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 23 spots), making its $45,550 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #8 on nominal pay ($53,498) but its high cost of living drops it 18 spots to #26 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Architectural and Civil Drafters wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.