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 | $52,801 | 90.8 | $58,151 | #1 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $52,000 | 92.3 | $56,338 | #2 |
| 3 | Brooklyn, NY | $51,701 | 125.1 | $41,327 | #4 (-1) |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $50,076 | 146.5 | $34,182 | #9 (-5) |
| 5 | EAST LANSING, MI | $48,421 | 90.6 | $53,445 | #3 (+2) |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $47,738 | 138.5 | $34,468 | #8 (-2) |
| 7 | New York, NY | $46,000 | 125.1 | $36,771 | #6 (+1) |
| 8 | New Rochelle, NY | $43,472 | 125.1 | $34,750 | #7 (+1) |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $40,456 | 138.5 | $29,210 | #10 (-1) |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $40,102 | 138.5 | $28,955 | #11 (-1) |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,000 | 95.6 | $37,657 | #5 (+6) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors is in New York, NE at $52,801, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $58,151 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Pittsburgh, PA ranks #11 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $36,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #4 on nominal pay ($50,076) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #9 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.