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 | West Long Branch, NJ | $64,000 | 113.7 | $56,288 | #1 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $50,400 | 146.5 | $34,403 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | New York, NY | $50,400 | 125.1 | $40,288 | #2 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Education Teachers, Postsecondary is in West Long Branch, NJ at $64,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment West Long Branch, NJ offers the best purchasing power at $56,288 equivalent.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($50,400) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Education Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.