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 Jose, CA | $65,000 | 138.5 | $46,931 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $51,813 | 92.7 | $55,893 | #1 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other is in San Jose, CA at $65,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Houston, TX offers the best purchasing power at $55,893 equivalent.
- Beware: San Jose, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($65,000) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #2 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.