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 | Seattle, WA | $36,795 | 114.6 | $32,107 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $36,400 | 138.5 | $26,282 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $32,240 | 138.5 | $23,278 | #7 (-4) |
| 4 | New York, NY | $31,741 | 125.1 | $25,373 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $30,900 | 113.1 | $27,321 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | New York, NE | $30,306 | 90.8 | $33,377 | #1 (+5) |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $27,768 | 138.5 | $20,049 | #8 (-1) |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $26,749 | 92.3 | $28,981 | #3 (+5) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Cooks, Restaurant is in Seattle, WA at $36,795, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $33,377 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: New York, NE ranks #6 by nominal pay but climbs to #1 once cost of living is factored in (up 5 spots), making its $30,306 go a lot further.
- Beware: San Diego, CA looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($32,240) but its high cost of living drops it 4 spots to #7 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Cooks, Restaurant wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.