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 | Mountain View, CA | $164,923 | 138.5 | $119,078 | #4 (-3) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $150,550 | 90.8 | $165,804 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $150,000 | 138.5 | $108,303 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | New York, NY | $142,906 | 125.1 | $114,233 | #5 (-1) |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $141,211 | 92.7 | $152,331 | #2 (+3) |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $133,333 | 138.5 | $96,269 | #8 (-2) |
| 7 | Foster City, CA | $125,335 | 138.5 | $90,495 | #12 (-5) |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $114,160 | 114.6 | $99,616 | #7 (+1) |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $113,568 | 92.3 | $123,042 | #3 (+6) |
| 10 | Bellevue, WA | $104,321 | 114.6 | $91,030 | #10 |
| 11 | Redmond, WA | $104,000 | 114.6 | $90,750 | #11 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 | 138.5 | $72,202 | #13 (-1) |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $96,491 | 102.8 | $93,863 | #9 (+4) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Human Resources Managers is in Mountain View, CA at $164,923, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $165,804 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #9 by nominal pay but climbs to #3 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $113,568 go a lot further.
- Beware: Foster City, CA looks strong at #7 on nominal pay ($125,335) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #12 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Human Resources Managers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.