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 | PASADENA, CA | $81,000 | 138.5 | $58,484 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $79,055 | 116.5 | $67,858 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Hilo, HI | $71,422 | 180.3 | $39,613 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $70,023 | 105.5 | $66,373 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $70,000 | 146.5 | $47,782 | #5 |
| 6 | BERKELEY, CA | $69,250 | 138.5 | $50,000 | #4 (+2) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Astronomers is in PASADENA, CA at $81,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Baltimore, MD offers the best purchasing power at $67,858 equivalent.
- Beware: Hilo, HI looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($71,422) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Astronomers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.