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 | New York, NY | $82,361 | 125.1 | $65,836 | #4 (-3) |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $81,000 | 146.5 | $55,290 | #7 (-5) |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | $75,557 | 90.6 | $83,396 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $72,751 | 138.5 | $52,528 | #8 (-4) |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $72,000 | 95.6 | $75,314 | #2 (+3) |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $68,000 | 110.7 | $61,427 | #6 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $64,210 | 92.3 | $69,567 | #3 (+4) |
| 8 | Savannah, GA | $56,157 | 91.0 | $61,711 | #5 (+3) |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $54,985 | 138.5 | $39,700 | #9 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary is in New York, NY at $82,361, but after cost-of-living adjustment Ann Arbor, MI offers the best purchasing power at $83,396 equivalent.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($81,000) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #7 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.