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, NE | $63,170 | 90.8 | $69,570 | #1 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 146.0 | $41,096 | #6 (-4) |
| 3 | Miami, FL | $55,625 | 102.8 | $54,110 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $54,000 | 138.5 | $38,989 | #8 (-4) |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,250 | 101.2 | $51,630 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $49,774 | 92.3 | $53,926 | #3 (+3) |
| 7 | New York, NY | $48,951 | 125.1 | $39,129 | #7 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $44,179 | 92.7 | $47,658 | #5 (+3) |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,950 | 138.5 | $31,733 | #9 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Chefs and Head Cooks is in New York, NE at $63,170, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $69,570 equivalent.
- Beware: Washington, DC looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($60,000) but its high cost of living drops it 4 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Chefs and Head Cooks wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.