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 | New York, NE | $79,302 | 90.8 | $87,337 | #1 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $62,700 | 125.1 | $50,120 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $60,000 | 138.5 | $43,321 | #4 (-1) |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $58,700 | 92.3 | $63,597 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $55,000 | 146.5 | $37,543 | #5 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,897 | 138.5 | $36,749 | #6 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $49,500 | 146.0 | $33,904 | #7 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Food Service Managers is in New York, NE at $79,302, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $87,337 equivalent.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($62,700) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Food Service Managers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.