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 | Cambridge, MA | $115,000 | 146.5 | $78,498 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $89,234 | 91.0 | $98,059 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $81,245 | 146.5 | $55,457 | #5 (-2) |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $71,204 | 116.5 | $61,119 | #3 (+1) |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $56,722 | 101.1 | $56,105 | #4 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Epidemiologists is in Cambridge, MA at $115,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Atlanta, GA offers the best purchasing power at $98,059 equivalent.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($81,245) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Epidemiologists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.