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 | Foster City, CA | $142,500 | 138.5 | $102,888 | #5 (-4) |
| 2 | Cupertino, CA | $125,757 | 138.5 | $90,799 | #8 (-6) |
| 3 | Mountain View, CA | $125,000 | 138.5 | $90,253 | #9 (-6) |
| 4 | San Mateo, CA | $125,000 | 138.5 | $90,253 | #10 (-6) |
| 5 | Menlo Park, CA | $120,890 | 138.5 | $87,285 | #11 (-6) |
| 6 | Newark, CA | $120,000 | 138.5 | $86,643 | #12 (-6) |
| 7 | Gardena, CA | $110,000 | 138.5 | $79,422 | #15 (-8) |
| 8 | Redwood City, CA | $109,070 | 138.5 | $78,751 | #16 (-8) |
| 9 | Pasadena, TX | $108,500 | 92.7 | $117,044 | #1 (+8) |
| 10 | Palo Alto, CA | $108,000 | 138.5 | $77,978 | #17 (-7) |
| 11 | Alameda, CA | $107,580 | 138.5 | $77,675 | #18 (-7) |
| 12 | Sunnyvale, CA | $107,389 | 138.5 | $77,537 | #19 (-7) |
| 13 | Santa Clara, CA | $105,768 | 138.5 | $76,367 | #20 (-7) |
| 14 | El Segundo, CA | $105,643 | 138.5 | $76,277 | #21 (-7) |
| 15 | Torrance, CA | $101,815 | 138.5 | $73,512 | #22 (-7) |
| 16 | The Woodlands, TX | $101,000 | 92.7 | $108,954 | #2 (+14) |
| 17 | Milpitas, CA | $101,000 | 138.5 | $72,924 | #23 (-6) |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $100,485 | 138.5 | $72,552 | #24 (-6) |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $100,000 | 138.5 | $72,202 | #25 (-6) |
| 20 | Niskayuna, NY | $100,000 | 125.1 | $79,936 | #14 (+6) |
| 21 | San Francisco, CA | $97,282 | 138.5 | $70,239 | #26 (-5) |
| 22 | Jersey City, NE | $95,576 | 90.8 | $105,260 | #4 (+18) |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $95,490 | 138.5 | $68,946 | #27 (-4) |
| 24 | Raynham, MA | $95,000 | 146.5 | $64,846 | #30 (-6) |
| 25 | Spring, TX | $95,000 | 92.7 | $102,481 | #6 (+19) |
| 26 | Santa Cruz, CA | $95,000 | 138.5 | $68,592 | #28 (-2) |
| 27 | Irvine, CA | $95,000 | 138.5 | $68,592 | #29 (-2) |
| 28 | Phoenix, AR | $95,000 | 89.0 | $106,742 | #3 (+25) |
| 29 | Beaverton, OR | $94,661 | 113.1 | $83,696 | #13 (+16) |
| 30 | Boise, ID | $93,650 | 103.1 | $90,834 | #7 (+23) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Mechanical Engineers is in Foster City, CA at $142,500, but after cost-of-living adjustment Pasadena, TX offers the best purchasing power at $117,044 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Phoenix, AR ranks #28 by nominal pay but climbs to #3 once cost of living is factored in (up 25 spots), making its $95,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Gardena, CA looks strong at #7 on nominal pay ($110,000) but its high cost of living drops it 8 spots to #15 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Mechanical Engineers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.