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 Francisco, CA | $73,445 | 138.5 | $53,029 | #4 (-3) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $65,500 | 90.8 | $72,137 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | New York City, NY | $65,000 | 125.1 | $51,958 | #5 (-2) |
| 4 | New Albany, OH | $63,300 | 94.0 | $67,340 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | New York, NY | $57,000 | 125.1 | $45,564 | #6 (-1) |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,500 | 95.6 | $57,008 | #3 (+3) |
| 7 | Greenwich, CT | $48,800 | 112.8 | $43,262 | #7 |
| 8 | Brooklyn, NY | $44,500 | 125.1 | $35,572 | #8 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $41,600 | 138.5 | $30,036 | #9 |
| 10 | VERNON, CA | $40,914 | 138.5 | $29,541 | #10 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Fashion Designers is in San Francisco, CA at $73,445, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $72,137 equivalent.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($73,445) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #4 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Fashion Designers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.