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 | Menlo Park, CA | $184,304 | 138.5 | $133,071 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | Cupertino, CA | $148,554 | 138.5 | $107,259 | #4 (-2) |
| 3 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $130,000 | 138.5 | $93,863 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $125,600 | 138.5 | $90,686 | #7 (-3) |
| 5 | New York, NE | $125,000 | 90.8 | $137,665 | #1 (+4) |
| 6 | BROOKLYN, NE | $124,950 | 90.8 | $137,610 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | Irvine, CA | $116,100 | 138.5 | $83,827 | #11 (-4) |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $110,000 | 146.5 | $75,085 | #16 (-8) |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $105,851 | 105.5 | $100,333 | #5 (+4) |
| 10 | New York, NY | $105,000 | 125.1 | $83,933 | #9 (+1) |
| 11 | Brooklyn, NY | $105,000 | 125.1 | $83,933 | #10 (+1) |
| 12 | Torrance, CA | $104,629 | 138.5 | $75,544 | #15 (-3) |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $98,323 | 113.1 | $86,934 | #8 (+5) |
| 14 | Venice, CA | $97,393 | 138.5 | $70,320 | #17 (-3) |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $85,000 | 138.5 | $61,372 | #18 (-3) |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $80,000 | 102.8 | $77,821 | #14 (+2) |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 92.3 | $81,257 | #13 (+4) |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $74,526 | 91.0 | $81,897 | #12 (+6) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Art Directors is in Menlo Park, CA at $184,304, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $137,665 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Atlanta, GA ranks #18 by nominal pay but climbs to #12 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $74,526 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #8 on nominal pay ($110,000) but its high cost of living drops it 8 spots to #16 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Art Directors wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.