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 | San Francisco, CA | $102,928 | 138.5 | $74,316 | #4 (-3) |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $90,000 | 112.8 | $79,787 | #2 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $89,584 | 95.6 | $93,707 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $86,216 | 146.5 | $58,851 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $83,315 | 146.5 | $56,870 | #8 (-3) |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,630 | 138.5 | $58,217 | #7 (-1) |
| 7 | New York, NY | $75,000 | 125.1 | $59,952 | #5 (+2) |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $72,450 | 146.0 | $49,623 | #9 (-1) |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $69,500 | 92.3 | $75,298 | #3 (+6) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Education Administrators, Postsecondary is in San Francisco, CA at $102,928, but after cost-of-living adjustment Philadelphia, PA offers the best purchasing power at $93,707 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #9 by nominal pay but climbs to #3 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $69,500 go a lot further.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($102,928) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #4 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Education Administrators, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.