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 | Cupertino, CA | $83,200 | 138.5 | $60,072 | #1 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $60,000 | 138.5 | $43,321 | #4 (-2) |
| 3 | Glendale, CA | $55,411 | 138.5 | $40,008 | #5 (-2) |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $53,966 | 138.5 | $38,965 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | New York, NE | $50,000 | 90.8 | $55,066 | #2 (+3) |
| 6 | New York, NY | $46,000 | 125.1 | $36,771 | #7 (-1) |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $45,469 | 92.7 | $49,050 | #3 (+4) |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $41,300 | 138.5 | $29,819 | #8 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $38,000 | 138.5 | $27,437 | #10 (-1) |
| 10 | ARCADIA, CA | $37,440 | 138.5 | $27,032 | #11 (-1) |
| 11 | Flushing, NY | $33,280 | 125.1 | $26,603 | #12 (-1) |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $29,750 | 102.8 | $28,940 | #9 (+3) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Interpreters and Translators is in Cupertino, CA at $83,200, but after cost-of-living adjustment Cupertino, CA offers the best purchasing power at $60,072 equivalent.
- Beware: San Jose, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($60,000) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #4 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Interpreters and Translators wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.