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 | Fort Worth, TX | $49,895 | 92.7 | $53,824 | #1 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $47,750 | 125.1 | $38,169 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $45,760 | 138.5 | $33,040 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $45,714 | 92.7 | $49,314 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | Irvine, CA | $45,540 | 138.5 | $32,881 | #7 (-2) |
| 6 | Brooklyn, NY | $45,530 | 125.1 | $36,395 | #4 (+2) |
| 7 | Sunnyvale, CA | $45,386 | 138.5 | $32,769 | #8 (-1) |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $43,828 | 146.0 | $30,019 | #10 (-2) |
| 9 | Lomita, CA | $42,390 | 138.5 | $30,607 | #9 |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $41,059 | 138.5 | $29,646 | #11 (-1) |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $36,880 | 102.8 | $35,875 | #5 (+6) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education is in Fort Worth, TX at $49,895, but after cost-of-living adjustment Fort Worth, TX offers the best purchasing power at $53,824 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Miami, FL ranks #11 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $36,880 go a lot further.
- Beware: Palo Alto, CA looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($45,760) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.