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 | Baltimore, MD | $69,664 | 116.5 | $59,797 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $68,635 | 90.8 | $75,589 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $63,360 | 138.5 | $45,747 | #21 (-18) |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $62,400 | 138.5 | $45,054 | #22 (-18) |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $60,202 | 138.5 | $43,467 | #24 (-19) |
| 6 | New York, NY | $59,400 | 125.1 | $47,482 | #20 (-14) |
| 7 | BROOKLYN, NE | $57,923 | 90.8 | $63,791 | #2 (+5) |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $57,896 | 138.5 | $41,802 | #26 (-18) |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $56,973 | 146.0 | $39,023 | #30 (-21) |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,797 | 138.5 | $41,009 | #27 (-17) |
| 11 | PASADENA, CA | $55,716 | 138.5 | $40,228 | #28 (-17) |
| 12 | Mesquite, TX | $52,316 | 92.7 | $56,436 | #4 (+8) |
| 13 | Splendora, TX | $51,825 | 92.7 | $55,906 | #5 (+8) |
| 14 | Englewood Cliffs, NJ | $51,022 | 113.7 | $44,875 | #23 (-9) |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $50,864 | 92.3 | $55,108 | #6 (+9) |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $50,136 | 92.7 | $54,084 | #7 (+9) |
| 17 | Brooklyn, NY | $49,908 | 125.1 | $39,894 | #29 (-12) |
| 18 | Fort Worth, TX | $49,895 | 92.7 | $53,824 | #8 (+10) |
| 19 | MISSOURI CITY, TX | $48,933 | 92.7 | $52,786 | #9 (+10) |
| 20 | Conroe, TX | $48,391 | 92.7 | $52,202 | #10 (+10) |
| 21 | Portland, OR | $48,141 | 113.1 | $42,565 | #25 (-4) |
| 22 | DALLAS, TX | $47,931 | 92.7 | $51,705 | #12 (+10) |
| 23 | Hopkins, MN | $47,762 | 94.6 | $50,488 | #14 (+9) |
| 24 | Garland, TX | $47,612 | 92.7 | $51,361 | #13 (+11) |
| 25 | Atlanta, GA | $47,447 | 91.0 | $52,140 | #11 (+14) |
| 26 | ODESSA, TX | $46,580 | 92.7 | $50,248 | #15 (+11) |
| 27 | Dayton, TX | $46,390 | 92.7 | $50,043 | #17 (+10) |
| 28 | Liberty, TX | $46,320 | 92.7 | $49,968 | #18 (+10) |
| 29 | Columbia, SC | $45,982 | 95.3 | $48,250 | #19 (+10) |
| 30 | New Orleans, LA | $45,708 | 91.3 | $50,063 | #16 (+14) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is in Baltimore, MD at $69,664, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $75,589 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Atlanta, GA ranks #25 by nominal pay but climbs to #11 once cost of living is factored in (up 14 spots), making its $47,447 go a lot further.
- Beware: Washington, DC looks strong at #9 on nominal pay ($56,973) but its high cost of living drops it 21 spots to #30 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.