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 | Menlo Park, CA | $108,625 | 138.5 | $78,429 | #4 (-3) |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $94,000 | 114.6 | $82,024 | #2 |
| 3 | Mountain View, CA | $93,998 | 138.5 | $67,868 | #7 (-4) |
| 4 | Palo Alto, CA | $84,906 | 138.5 | $61,304 | #14 (-10) |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $80,000 | 138.5 | $57,762 | #16 (-11) |
| 6 | Edison, NE | $78,905 | 90.8 | $86,900 | #1 (+5) |
| 7 | Sunnyvale, CA | $77,795 | 138.5 | $56,170 | #18 (-11) |
| 8 | Redmond, WA | $77,336 | 114.6 | $67,483 | #8 |
| 9 | New York, NE | $72,500 | 90.8 | $79,846 | #3 (+6) |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $70,500 | 138.5 | $50,903 | #25 (-15) |
| 11 | Milpitas, CA | $70,262 | 138.5 | $50,731 | #27 (-16) |
| 12 | Santa Clara, CA | $68,224 | 138.5 | $49,259 | #28 (-16) |
| 13 | Basking Ridge, NE | $67,000 | 90.8 | $73,789 | #5 (+8) |
| 14 | Bellevue, WA | $66,000 | 114.6 | $57,592 | #17 (-3) |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $65,000 | 95.7 | $67,921 | #6 (+9) |
| 16 | Pleasanton, CA | $64,543 | 138.5 | $46,601 | #29 (-13) |
| 17 | New York, NY | $63,595 | 125.1 | $50,835 | #26 (-9) |
| 18 | Bridgewater, NJ | $63,400 | 113.7 | $55,761 | #19 (-1) |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $63,107 | 138.5 | $45,565 | #30 (-11) |
| 20 | Herndon, VA | $62,400 | 100.7 | $61,966 | #13 (+7) |
| 21 | Somerset, NJ | $61,679 | 113.7 | $54,247 | #20 (+1) |
| 22 | Plainsboro, NJ | $61,668 | 113.7 | $54,237 | #21 (+1) |
| 23 | Chantilly, VA | $61,200 | 100.7 | $60,775 | #15 (+8) |
| 24 | Columbus, IN | $60,000 | 91.0 | $65,934 | #9 (+15) |
| 25 | PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ | $60,000 | 113.7 | $52,770 | #22 (+3) |
| 26 | Edison, NJ | $60,000 | 113.7 | $52,770 | #23 (+3) |
| 27 | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $60,000 | 113.7 | $52,770 | #24 (+3) |
| 28 | Plano, TX | $60,000 | 92.7 | $64,725 | #11 (+17) |
| 29 | Alpharetta, GA | $60,000 | 91.0 | $65,934 | #10 (+19) |
| 30 | Irving, TX | $60,000 | 92.7 | $64,725 | #12 (+18) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Human Resources Specialists is in Menlo Park, CA at $108,625, but after cost-of-living adjustment Edison, NE offers the best purchasing power at $86,900 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Alpharetta, GA ranks #29 by nominal pay but climbs to #10 once cost of living is factored in (up 19 spots), making its $60,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Milpitas, CA looks strong at #11 on nominal pay ($70,262) but its high cost of living drops it 16 spots to #27 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Human Resources Specialists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.