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 | $110,968 | 138.5 | $80,121 | #1 |
| 2 | Hampton, VA | $74,127 | 100.7 | $73,612 | #2 |
| 3 | GREENBELT, MD | $72,000 | 116.5 | $61,803 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | Richland, WA | $69,750 | 114.6 | $60,864 | #7 (-3) |
| 5 | College Park, MD | $68,250 | 116.5 | $58,584 | #8 (-3) |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $67,764 | 95.1 | $71,255 | #3 (+3) |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $66,557 | 105.5 | $63,087 | #5 (+2) |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,679 | 138.5 | $44,533 | #10 (-2) |
| 9 | Ann Arbor, MI | $59,500 | 90.6 | $65,673 | #4 (+5) |
| 10 | Princeton, NJ | $55,000 | 113.7 | $48,373 | #9 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Atmospheric and Space Scientists is in PASADENA, CA at $110,968, but after cost-of-living adjustment PASADENA, CA offers the best purchasing power at $80,121 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Ann Arbor, MI ranks #9 by nominal pay but climbs to #4 once cost of living is factored in (up 5 spots), making its $59,500 go a lot further.
- Beware: GREENBELT, MD looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($72,000) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Atmospheric and Space Scientists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.