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 | Celebration, FL | $325,000 | 102.8 | $316,148 | #1 |
| 2 | SACRAMENTO, CA | $247,500 | 138.5 | $178,700 | #27 (-25) |
| 3 | Jackson, MI | $240,000 | 90.6 | $264,901 | #3 |
| 4 | Morgantown, WV | $239,352 | 90.5 | $264,477 | #4 |
| 5 | JACKSON, MS | $230,000 | 86.3 | $266,512 | #2 (+3) |
| 6 | KANSAS CITY, KS, KS | $225,000 | 87.1 | $258,324 | #5 (+1) |
| 7 | Lubbock, TX | $225,000 | 92.7 | $242,718 | #6 (+1) |
| 8 | New Haven, CO | $220,100 | 105.5 | $208,626 | #9 (-1) |
| 9 | Jacksonville, FL | $214,240 | 102.8 | $208,405 | #10 (-1) |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NE | $213,232 | 90.8 | $234,836 | #7 (+3) |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $200,000 | 138.5 | $144,404 | #28 (-17) |
| 12 | Winston Salem, NC | $196,462 | 95.7 | $205,289 | #11 (+1) |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $195,176 | 102.8 | $189,860 | #23 (-10) |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $190,800 | 102.8 | $185,603 | #24 (-10) |
| 15 | Worcester, MA | $190,656 | 146.5 | $130,141 | #30 (-15) |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $188,000 | 94.0 | $200,000 | #13 (+3) |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $185,000 | 95.1 | $194,532 | #17 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $185,000 | 87.1 | $212,400 | #8 (+10) |
| 19 | EL PASO, TX | $183,870 | 92.7 | $198,350 | #16 (+3) |
| 20 | ROCHESTER, NE | $183,450 | 90.8 | $202,037 | #12 (+8) |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $180,000 | 92.7 | $194,175 | #18 (+3) |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $180,000 | 94.0 | $191,489 | #22 |
| 23 | Columbia, MI | $180,000 | 90.6 | $198,676 | #15 (+8) |
| 24 | Columbia, MO | $176,800 | 88.5 | $199,774 | #14 (+10) |
| 25 | Shreveport, LA | $176,000 | 91.3 | $192,771 | #21 (+4) |
| 26 | Hershey, PA | $175,500 | 95.6 | $183,577 | #26 |
| 27 | Charleston, WV | $175,000 | 90.5 | $193,370 | #19 (+8) |
| 28 | Rochester, NY | $175,000 | 125.1 | $139,888 | #29 (-1) |
| 29 | St. Louis, MI | $175,000 | 90.6 | $193,157 | #20 (+9) |
| 30 | Albuquerque, NM | $173,000 | 94.0 | $184,043 | #25 (+5) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary is in Celebration, FL at $325,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Celebration, FL offers the best purchasing power at $316,148 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Kansas City, KS ranks #18 by nominal pay but climbs to #8 once cost of living is factored in (up 10 spots), making its $185,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: SACRAMENTO, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($247,500) but its high cost of living drops it 25 spots to #27 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.