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 | $120,000 | 90.8 | $132,159 | #1 |
| 2 | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $104,950 | 113.7 | $92,304 | #4 (-2) |
| 3 | Long Island City, NY | $103,020 | 125.1 | $82,350 | #8 (-5) |
| 4 | New York, NY | $100,000 | 125.1 | $79,936 | #9 (-5) |
| 5 | Mettawa, IL | $93,250 | 92.3 | $101,029 | #2 (+3) |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $91,936 | 138.5 | $66,380 | #14 (-8) |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,550 | 108.4 | $83,534 | #7 |
| 8 | Arlington Heights, IL | $90,170 | 92.3 | $97,692 | #3 (+5) |
| 9 | Wilmington, DE | $90,000 | 101.1 | $89,021 | #6 (+3) |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $85,000 | 94.0 | $90,426 | #5 (+5) |
| 11 | PASADENA, CA | $75,000 | 138.5 | $54,152 | #20 (-9) |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $73,000 | 146.5 | $49,829 | #23 (-11) |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $67,000 | 92.3 | $72,589 | #10 (+3) |
| 14 | Bellevue, WA | $66,000 | 114.6 | $57,592 | #19 (-5) |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $65,000 | 91.0 | $71,429 | #11 (+4) |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $65,000 | 92.7 | $70,119 | #12 (+4) |
| 17 | San Jose, CA | $64,634 | 138.5 | $46,667 | #24 (-7) |
| 18 | Riverwoods, IL | $64,376 | 92.3 | $69,746 | #13 (+5) |
| 19 | Irvine, CA | $61,922 | 138.5 | $44,709 | #25 (-6) |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $61,693 | 102.8 | $60,013 | #16 (+4) |
| 21 | McLean, VA | $60,757 | 100.7 | $60,335 | #15 (+6) |
| 22 | Salt Lake City, UT | $60,000 | 103.2 | $58,140 | #18 (+4) |
| 23 | DALLAS, TX | $55,000 | 92.7 | $59,331 | #17 (+6) |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,980 | 138.5 | $36,809 | #26 (-2) |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $48,992 | 92.7 | $52,850 | #21 (+4) |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $48,658 | 92.7 | $52,490 | #22 (+4) |
| 27 | Rowland Heights, CA | $48,500 | 138.5 | $35,018 | #27 |
| 28 | ALHAMBRA, CA | $48,402 | 138.5 | $34,947 | #28 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Credit Analysts is in New York, NE at $120,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $132,159 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: McLean, VA ranks #21 by nominal pay but climbs to #15 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $60,757 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #12 on nominal pay ($73,000) but its high cost of living drops it 11 spots to #23 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
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