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 | Menlo Park, CA | $140,000 | 138.5 | $101,083 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $110,000 | 138.5 | $79,422 | #7 (-5) |
| 3 | New York, NE | $109,200 | 90.8 | $120,264 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $102,628 | 138.5 | $74,100 | #10 (-6) |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $99,757 | 114.6 | $87,048 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $96,366 | 138.5 | $69,578 | #14 (-8) |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $95,386 | 92.7 | $102,898 | #2 (+5) |
| 8 | New York, NY | $95,000 | 125.1 | $75,939 | #8 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $92,196 | 146.5 | $62,932 | #19 (-10) |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $90,000 | 138.5 | $64,982 | #18 (-8) |
| 11 | Brooklyn, NY | $77,000 | 125.1 | $61,551 | #20 (-9) |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $77,000 | 102.8 | $74,903 | #9 (+3) |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $76,502 | 92.3 | $82,885 | #5 (+8) |
| 14 | Newark, CA | $74,000 | 138.5 | $53,430 | #21 (-7) |
| 15 | Phoenix, AR | $71,495 | 89.0 | $80,331 | #6 (+9) |
| 16 | Orlando, FL | $69,875 | 102.8 | $67,972 | #16 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $68,500 | 92.7 | $73,894 | #11 (+6) |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $68,370 | 102.8 | $66,508 | #17 (+1) |
| 19 | DALLAS, TX | $68,301 | 92.7 | $73,680 | #12 (+7) |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $65,000 | 91.0 | $71,429 | #13 (+7) |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $64,210 | 92.7 | $69,266 | #15 (+6) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Construction Managers is in Menlo Park, CA at $140,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $120,264 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Phoenix, AR ranks #15 by nominal pay but climbs to #6 once cost of living is factored in (up 9 spots), making its $71,495 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #9 on nominal pay ($92,196) but its high cost of living drops it 10 spots to #19 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Construction Managers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.