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 | Boston, MA | $160,000 | 146.5 | $109,215 | #1 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $74,836 | 146.0 | $51,258 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | New York, NE | $71,672 | 90.8 | $78,934 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $64,699 | 138.5 | $46,714 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | New York, NY | $52,500 | 125.1 | $41,966 | #9 (-4) |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $52,416 | 138.5 | $37,845 | #10 (-4) |
| 7 | City of Industry, CA | $52,416 | 138.5 | $37,845 | #11 (-4) |
| 8 | Flushing, NE | $52,000 | 90.8 | $57,269 | #3 (+5) |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $51,979 | 138.5 | $37,530 | #12 (-3) |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $48,402 | 92.3 | $52,440 | #4 (+6) |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $48,000 | 102.8 | $46,693 | #7 (+4) |
| 12 | Flushing, NY | $43,784 | 125.1 | $34,999 | #13 (-1) |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $43,077 | 92.7 | $46,469 | #8 (+5) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Judicial Law Clerks is in Boston, MA at $160,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Boston, MA offers the best purchasing power at $109,215 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #10 by nominal pay but climbs to #4 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $48,402 go a lot further.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($52,500) but its high cost of living drops it 4 spots to #9 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Judicial Law Clerks wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.