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 | Washington, DC | $81,000 | 146.0 | $55,479 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $52,634 | 90.8 | $57,967 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | New York, NY | $48,318 | 125.1 | $38,624 | #5 (-2) |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $46,800 | 92.3 | $50,704 | #3 (+1) |
| 5 | Monticello, NY | $43,181 | 125.1 | $34,517 | #6 (-1) |
| 6 | Bronx, NY | $40,000 | 125.1 | $31,974 | #7 (-1) |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $35,992 | 92.7 | $38,826 | #4 (+3) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Health Education Specialists is in Washington, DC at $81,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $57,967 equivalent.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($48,318) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Health Education Specialists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.