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 | Bakersfield, CA | $149,000 | 138.5 | $107,581 | #7 (-6) |
| 2 | Spring, TX | $131,900 | 92.7 | $142,287 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $126,199 | 105.5 | $119,619 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $125,000 | 91.3 | $136,911 | #3 (+1) |
| 5 | The Woodlands, TX | $120,350 | 92.7 | $129,827 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $119,550 | 125.0 | $95,640 | #8 (-2) |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $119,000 | 92.7 | $128,371 | #5 (+2) |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $118,078 | 86.2 | $136,981 | #2 (+6) |
| 9 | Midland, TX | $88,355 | 92.7 | $95,313 | #9 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $72,897 | 103.2 | $70,637 | #10 |
| 11 | Palisades, NY | $72,100 | 125.1 | $57,634 | #13 (-2) |
| 12 | BERKELEY, CA | $69,276 | 138.5 | $50,019 | #14 (-2) |
| 13 | Cambridge, MA | $68,148 | 146.5 | $46,517 | #15 (-2) |
| 14 | PASADENA, CA | $61,984 | 138.5 | $44,754 | #16 (-2) |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $60,000 | 92.7 | $64,725 | #11 (+4) |
| 16 | College Station, TX | $59,629 | 92.7 | $64,325 | #12 (+4) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers is in Bakersfield, CA at $149,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Spring, TX offers the best purchasing power at $142,287 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Oklahoma City, OK ranks #8 by nominal pay but climbs to #2 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $118,078 go a lot further.
- Beware: Bakersfield, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($149,000) but its high cost of living drops it 6 spots to #7 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.