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 | $80,000 | 90.8 | $88,106 | #1 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $76,176 | 138.5 | $55,001 | #2 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $70,925 | 146.5 | $48,413 | #4 (-1) |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $67,620 | 146.0 | $46,315 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,602 | 146.5 | $42,732 | #9 (-4) |
| 6 | New York, NY | $60,000 | 125.1 | $47,962 | #5 (+1) |
| 7 | Brooklyn, NY | $55,000 | 125.1 | $43,965 | #8 (-1) |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $55,000 | 102.8 | $53,502 | #3 (+5) |
| 9 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $43,872 | 138.5 | $31,677 | #10 (-1) |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $42,182 | 138.5 | $30,457 | #11 (-1) |
| 11 | City of Industry, CA | $42,182 | 138.5 | $30,456 | #12 (-1) |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $41,600 | 92.3 | $45,070 | #7 (+5) |
| 13 | Culver City, CA | $40,160 | 138.5 | $28,996 | #13 |
| 14 | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $38,709 | 138.5 | $27,949 | #14 |
| 15 | Torrance, CA | $38,438 | 138.5 | $27,753 | #15 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Editors is in New York, NE at $80,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $88,106 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Miami, FL ranks #8 by nominal pay but climbs to #3 once cost of living is factored in (up 5 spots), making its $55,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($62,602) but its high cost of living drops it 4 spots to #9 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Editors wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.