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 | $39,957 | 125.1 | $31,940 | #1 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,629 | 138.5 | $26,447 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | Palisades Park, NJ | $35,797 | 113.7 | $31,484 | #2 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Credit Counselors is in New York, NY at $39,957, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NY offers the best purchasing power at $31,940 equivalent.
- Beware: Los Angeles, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($36,629) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Credit Counselors wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.