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 | Seattle, WA | $89,620 | 114.6 | $78,202 | #1 |
| 2 | Bronx, NY | $80,000 | 125.1 | $63,949 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $66,820 | 138.5 | $48,245 | #9 (-6) |
| 4 | Ann Arbor, MI | $62,500 | 90.6 | $68,985 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $61,750 | 138.5 | $44,585 | #11 (-6) |
| 6 | DALLAS, TX | $60,000 | 92.7 | $64,725 | #4 (+2) |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 146.0 | $41,096 | #13 (-6) |
| 8 | New York, NE | $59,401 | 90.8 | $65,419 | #3 (+5) |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $57,429 | 92.3 | $62,220 | #6 (+3) |
| 10 | Santa Clara, CA | $56,431 | 138.5 | $40,744 | #14 (-4) |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $54,376 | 138.5 | $39,260 | #16 (-5) |
| 12 | Irvine, CA | $53,747 | 138.5 | $38,807 | #17 (-5) |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $52,000 | 92.7 | $56,095 | #7 (+6) |
| 14 | Waltham, MA | $51,737 | 146.5 | $35,315 | #20 (-6) |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $51,500 | 146.5 | $35,154 | #21 (-6) |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,419 | 95.6 | $52,740 | #8 (+8) |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,160 | 138.5 | $36,217 | #19 (-2) |
| 18 | New York, NY | $49,991 | 125.1 | $39,961 | #15 (+3) |
| 19 | Brooklyn, NY | $46,977 | 125.1 | $37,552 | #18 (+1) |
| 20 | Orlando, FL | $46,000 | 102.8 | $44,747 | #10 (+10) |
| 21 | Cambridge, MA | $42,500 | 146.5 | $29,010 | #22 (-1) |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,707 | 95.6 | $41,535 | #12 (+10) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Instructional Coordinators is in Seattle, WA at $89,620, but after cost-of-living adjustment Seattle, WA offers the best purchasing power at $78,202 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Orlando, FL ranks #20 by nominal pay but climbs to #10 once cost of living is factored in (up 10 spots), making its $46,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Palo Alto, CA looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($66,820) but its high cost of living drops it 6 spots to #9 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Instructional Coordinators wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.