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 | $242,250 | 125.1 | $193,645 | #10 (-9) |
| 2 | Irvine, CA | $236,413 | 138.5 | $170,695 | #14 (-12) |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $224,494 | 138.5 | $162,090 | #15 (-12) |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $218,805 | 92.7 | $236,036 | #1 (+3) |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $218,607 | 95.6 | $228,669 | #3 (+2) |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $210,500 | 138.5 | $151,986 | #16 (-10) |
| 7 | New York, NE | $210,000 | 90.8 | $231,278 | #2 (+5) |
| 8 | Cambridge, MA | $208,000 | 146.5 | $141,980 | #18 (-10) |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $208,000 | 138.5 | $150,181 | #17 (-8) |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $208,000 | 105.5 | $197,156 | #7 (+3) |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $201,213 | 101.2 | $198,827 | #6 (+5) |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 92.3 | $216,685 | #4 (+8) |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $200,000 | 102.8 | $194,553 | #8 (+5) |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $188,240 | 92.7 | $203,064 | #5 (+9) |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $182,591 | 102.8 | $177,618 | #13 (+2) |
| 16 | DALLAS, TX | $180,000 | 92.7 | $194,175 | #9 (+7) |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $180,000 | 138.5 | $129,964 | #19 (-2) |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $177,568 | 146.5 | $121,207 | #20 (-2) |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $175,000 | 146.0 | $119,863 | #21 (-2) |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $175,000 | 91.0 | $192,308 | #11 (+9) |
| 21 | Alpharetta, GA | $171,080 | 91.0 | $188,000 | #12 (+9) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Chief Executives is in New York, NY at $242,250, but after cost-of-living adjustment Houston, TX offers the best purchasing power at $236,036 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Austin, TX ranks #14 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 9 spots), making its $188,240 go a lot further.
- Beware: Irvine, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($236,413) but its high cost of living drops it 12 spots to #14 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Chief Executives wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.