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 | $120,000 | 125.1 | $95,923 | #12 (-11) |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | $115,000 | 90.6 | $126,932 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $115,000 | 95.1 | $120,925 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $110,844 | 146.5 | $75,661 | #24 (-20) |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $109,800 | 146.5 | $74,949 | #25 (-20) |
| 6 | West Lafayette, IN | $107,019 | 91.0 | $117,603 | #3 (+3) |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $105,000 | 95.6 | $109,833 | #6 (+1) |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $104,138 | 116.5 | $89,388 | #16 (-8) |
| 9 | College Park, MD | $104,000 | 116.5 | $89,270 | #17 (-8) |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $100,000 | 91.0 | $109,890 | #4 (+6) |
| 11 | Albany, NY | $100,000 | 125.1 | $79,936 | #22 (-11) |
| 12 | Bloomington, IN | $100,000 | 91.0 | $109,890 | #5 (+7) |
| 13 | Urbana, IL | $99,000 | 92.3 | $107,259 | #8 (+5) |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $99,000 | 138.5 | $71,480 | #26 (-12) |
| 15 | Stony Brook, NY | $95,500 | 125.1 | $76,339 | #23 (-8) |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $95,004 | 114.6 | $82,901 | #21 (-5) |
| 17 | Montgomery, AL | $95,000 | 87.9 | $108,077 | #7 (+10) |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $94,250 | 95.7 | $98,485 | #9 (+9) |
| 19 | Tallahassee, FL | $93,000 | 102.8 | $90,467 | #15 (+4) |
| 20 | Springfield, IL | $90,775 | 92.3 | $98,348 | #10 (+10) |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $90,000 | 92.3 | $97,508 | #11 (+10) |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,250 | 95.6 | $91,266 | #14 (+8) |
| 23 | Fullerton, CA | $86,940 | 138.5 | $62,773 | #28 (-5) |
| 24 | University Park, PA | $85,266 | 95.6 | $89,190 | #18 (+6) |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $85,000 | 91.0 | $93,407 | #13 (+12) |
| 26 | Oxford, OH | $82,000 | 94.0 | $87,234 | #19 (+7) |
| 27 | Warrensburg, MO | $75,000 | 88.5 | $84,746 | #20 (+7) |
| 28 | Rochester, NY | $71,500 | 125.1 | $57,154 | #29 (-1) |
| 29 | Suwanee, GA | $57,678 | 91.0 | $63,383 | #27 (+2) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary is in New York, NY at $120,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Ann Arbor, MI offers the best purchasing power at $126,932 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Indianapolis, IN ranks #25 by nominal pay but climbs to #13 once cost of living is factored in (up 12 spots), making its $85,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #4 on nominal pay ($110,844) but its high cost of living drops it 20 spots to #24 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.