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 | $100,250 | 125.1 | $80,136 | #6 (-5) |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | $99,000 | 90.6 | $109,272 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Davis, CA | $96,000 | 138.5 | $69,314 | #8 (-5) |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $92,000 | 113.7 | $80,915 | #5 (-1) |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $91,000 | 138.5 | $65,704 | #9 (-4) |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $90,000 | 92.7 | $97,087 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $87,030 | 146.5 | $59,406 | #12 (-5) |
| 8 | La Jolla, CA | $86,700 | 138.5 | $62,599 | #11 (-3) |
| 9 | EAST LANSING, MI | $85,000 | 90.6 | $93,819 | #3 (+6) |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $81,151 | 92.3 | $87,921 | #4 (+6) |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $75,000 | 102.8 | $72,957 | #7 (+4) |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $72,108 | 114.6 | $62,921 | #10 (+2) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary is in New York, NY at $100,250, but after cost-of-living adjustment Ann Arbor, MI offers the best purchasing power at $109,272 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: EAST LANSING, MI ranks #9 by nominal pay but climbs to #3 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $85,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($100,250) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.