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 | Albany, NY | $64,945 | 125.1 | $51,914 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | Ossining, NY | $60,000 | 125.1 | $47,962 | #4 (-2) |
| 3 | Frederick, MD | $54,080 | 116.5 | $46,421 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $52,541 | 138.5 | $37,936 | #11 (-7) |
| 5 | Stanford, CA | $52,500 | 138.5 | $37,906 | #12 (-7) |
| 6 | Ashburn, VA | $52,500 | 100.7 | $52,135 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,001 | 138.5 | $36,824 | #13 (-6) |
| 8 | BERKELEY, CA | $50,000 | 138.5 | $36,101 | #14 (-6) |
| 9 | New York, NY | $49,000 | 125.1 | $39,169 | #10 (-1) |
| 10 | Cambridge, MA | $49,000 | 146.5 | $33,447 | #16 (-6) |
| 11 | La Jolla, CA | $48,556 | 138.5 | $35,058 | #15 (-4) |
| 12 | Iowa City, IA | $47,844 | 90.3 | $52,983 | #1 (+11) |
| 13 | Providence, RI | $47,647 | 110.7 | $43,042 | #7 (+6) |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $46,672 | 114.6 | $40,726 | #8 (+6) |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $45,192 | 146.5 | $30,848 | #17 (-2) |
| 16 | New Haven, CT | $45,000 | 112.8 | $39,894 | #9 (+7) |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,000 | 95.6 | $47,071 | #5 (+12) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Life Scientists, All Other is in Albany, NY at $64,945, but after cost-of-living adjustment Iowa City, IA offers the best purchasing power at $52,983 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Philadelphia, PA ranks #17 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 12 spots), making its $45,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #4 on nominal pay ($52,541) but its high cost of living drops it 7 spots to #11 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Life Scientists, All Other wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.