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 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,000 | 94.6 | $58,140 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $53,976 | 92.7 | $58,227 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Bloomfield, CT | $53,000 | 112.8 | $46,986 | #5 (-2) |
| 4 | Frisco, TX | $51,000 | 92.7 | $55,016 | #3 (+1) |
| 5 | Bellevue, WA | $50,627 | 114.6 | $44,177 | #6 (-1) |
| 6 | DALLAS, TX | $47,258 | 92.7 | $50,980 | #4 (+2) |
| 7 | Livermore, CA | $45,947 | 138.5 | $33,175 | #8 (-1) |
| 8 | Richardson, TX | $39,000 | 92.7 | $42,071 | #7 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians is in Minneapolis, MN at $55,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Houston, TX offers the best purchasing power at $58,227 equivalent.
- Beware: Bloomfield, CT looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($53,000) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.