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 | BERKELEY, CA | $106,900 | 138.5 | $77,184 | #17 (-16) |
| 2 | Davis, CA | $98,000 | 138.5 | $70,758 | #23 (-21) |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $97,000 | 95.1 | $101,998 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | College Park, MD | $95,000 | 116.5 | $81,545 | #12 (-8) |
| 5 | West Lafayette, IN | $91,500 | 91.0 | $100,549 | #2 (+3) |
| 6 | Notre Dame, IN | $90,500 | 91.0 | $99,451 | #3 (+3) |
| 7 | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $90,000 | 113.7 | $79,156 | #15 (-8) |
| 8 | EAST LANSING, MI | $90,000 | 90.6 | $99,338 | #4 (+4) |
| 9 | New York, NE | $86,151 | 90.8 | $94,880 | #5 (+4) |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,000 | 95.6 | $89,958 | #7 (+3) |
| 11 | Tallahassee, FL | $85,935 | 102.8 | $83,594 | #11 |
| 12 | Newark, DE | $85,591 | 101.1 | $84,659 | #10 (+2) |
| 13 | Champaign, IL | $85,000 | 92.3 | $92,091 | #6 (+7) |
| 14 | Princeton, NJ | $84,000 | 113.7 | $73,879 | #20 (-6) |
| 15 | Santa Barbara, CA | $83,900 | 138.5 | $60,578 | #25 (-10) |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $82,503 | 114.6 | $71,992 | #22 (-6) |
| 17 | New York, NY | $81,855 | 125.1 | $65,432 | #24 (-7) |
| 18 | Cambridge, MA | $81,832 | 146.5 | $55,858 | #27 (-9) |
| 19 | Richardson, TX | $81,500 | 92.7 | $87,918 | #8 (+11) |
| 20 | Charlottesville, VA | $78,000 | 100.7 | $77,458 | #16 (+4) |
| 21 | Clemson, SC | $76,500 | 95.3 | $80,273 | #14 (+7) |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $76,350 | 138.5 | $55,126 | #28 (-6) |
| 23 | Stony Brook, NY | $75,000 | 125.1 | $59,952 | #26 (-3) |
| 24 | Austin, TX | $75,000 | 92.7 | $80,906 | #13 (+11) |
| 25 | Orlando, FL | $74,643 | 102.8 | $72,609 | #21 (+4) |
| 26 | Norman, OK | $73,000 | 86.2 | $84,687 | #9 (+17) |
| 27 | University Park, PA | $72,144 | 95.6 | $75,464 | #19 (+8) |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $71,755 | 146.5 | $48,980 | #30 (-2) |
| 29 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,305 | 94.0 | $75,856 | #18 (+11) |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,004 | 138.5 | $51,266 | #29 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary is in BERKELEY, CA at $106,900, but after cost-of-living adjustment Madison, WI offers the best purchasing power at $101,998 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Norman, OK ranks #26 by nominal pay but climbs to #9 once cost of living is factored in (up 17 spots), making its $73,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Davis, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($98,000) but its high cost of living drops it 21 spots to #23 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.