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 | Iselin, NE | $134,000 | 90.8 | $147,577 | #1 |
| 2 | LONG ISLAND CITY, NE | $120,000 | 90.8 | $132,159 | #2 |
| 3 | Greenwich, CT | $120,000 | 112.8 | $106,383 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | Jersey City, NE | $117,110 | 90.8 | $128,976 | #3 (+1) |
| 5 | New York, NE | $117,000 | 90.8 | $128,855 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | Hoboken, NE | $115,915 | 90.8 | $127,660 | #5 (+1) |
| 7 | Long Island City, NY | $101,500 | 125.1 | $81,135 | #14 (-7) |
| 8 | Newport Beach, CA | $100,000 | 138.5 | $72,202 | #20 (-12) |
| 9 | Hoboken, NJ | $95,098 | 113.7 | $83,639 | #11 (-2) |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,500 | 108.4 | $86,255 | #9 (+1) |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $90,000 | 138.5 | $64,982 | #24 (-13) |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $90,000 | 138.5 | $64,982 | #25 (-13) |
| 13 | New York, NY | $85,000 | 125.1 | $67,946 | #22 (-9) |
| 14 | Iselin, NJ | $85,000 | 113.7 | $74,758 | #19 (-5) |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $83,800 | 146.5 | $57,201 | #29 (-14) |
| 16 | Wilmington, DE | $82,200 | 101.1 | $81,306 | #13 (+3) |
| 17 | Santa Clara, CA | $81,516 | 138.5 | $58,856 | #27 (-10) |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $81,078 | 94.0 | $86,253 | #10 (+8) |
| 19 | Weehawken, NE | $81,000 | 90.8 | $89,207 | #7 (+12) |
| 20 | New York City, NY | $80,000 | 125.1 | $63,949 | #26 (-6) |
| 21 | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $80,000 | 113.7 | $70,361 | #21 |
| 22 | Tampa, FL | $80,000 | 102.8 | $77,821 | #16 (+6) |
| 23 | Mountain View, CA | $80,000 | 138.5 | $57,762 | #28 (-5) |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $79,000 | 95.7 | $82,550 | #12 (+12) |
| 25 | McLean, VA | $78,160 | 100.7 | $77,617 | #17 (+8) |
| 26 | Arlington, VA | $77,646 | 100.7 | $77,106 | #18 (+8) |
| 27 | Burlington, MA | $77,584 | 146.5 | $52,958 | #30 (-3) |
| 28 | Birmingham, AL | $76,200 | 87.9 | $86,689 | #8 (+20) |
| 29 | Stamford, CT | $75,962 | 112.8 | $67,342 | #23 (+6) |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $75,500 | 94.0 | $80,319 | #15 (+15) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Financial Specialists, All Other is in Iselin, NE at $134,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Iselin, NE offers the best purchasing power at $147,577 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Birmingham, AL ranks #28 by nominal pay but climbs to #8 once cost of living is factored in (up 20 spots), making its $76,200 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #15 on nominal pay ($83,800) but its high cost of living drops it 14 spots to #29 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Financial Specialists, All Other wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.