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 | Evansville, IN | $300,000 | 91.0 | $329,670 | #1 |
| 2 | Springfield, IL | $300,000 | 92.3 | $325,027 | #2 |
| 3 | East Hanover, NJ | $118,000 | 113.7 | $103,782 | #4 (-1) |
| 4 | Foster City, CA | $116,480 | 138.5 | $84,101 | #8 (-4) |
| 5 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $115,500 | 138.5 | $83,394 | #9 (-4) |
| 6 | NORTH CHICAGO, IL | $110,000 | 92.3 | $119,177 | #3 (+3) |
| 7 | Silver Spring, MA | $107,100 | 146.5 | $73,106 | #16 (-9) |
| 8 | NEWTON, MA | $105,000 | 146.5 | $71,672 | #17 (-9) |
| 9 | South San Francisco, CA | $104,094 | 138.5 | $75,158 | #14 (-5) |
| 10 | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $102,842 | 113.7 | $90,450 | #5 (+5) |
| 11 | Silver Spring, MD | $99,106 | 116.5 | $85,070 | #7 (+4) |
| 12 | Emeryville, CA | $91,600 | 138.5 | $66,137 | #21 (-9) |
| 13 | Andover, MA | $85,598 | 146.5 | $58,429 | #24 (-11) |
| 14 | BETHESDA, MA | $84,169 | 146.5 | $57,453 | #25 (-11) |
| 15 | Princeton, NJ | $83,200 | 113.7 | $73,175 | #15 |
| 16 | Rockville, MD | $82,627 | 116.5 | $70,924 | #18 (-2) |
| 17 | Research Triangle Park, NC | $82,098 | 95.7 | $85,787 | #6 (+11) |
| 18 | Menlo Park, CA | $82,000 | 138.5 | $59,206 | #23 (-5) |
| 19 | Bethesda, MD | $80,847 | 116.5 | $69,397 | #19 |
| 20 | Torrance, CA | $77,500 | 138.5 | $55,957 | #26 (-6) |
| 21 | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $77,000 | 113.7 | $67,722 | #20 (+1) |
| 22 | Lexington, MA | $76,960 | 146.5 | $52,532 | #28 (-6) |
| 23 | Wilmington, DE | $76,128 | 101.1 | $75,300 | #13 (+10) |
| 24 | King of Prussia, PA | $75,450 | 95.6 | $78,923 | #10 (+14) |
| 25 | South Plainfield, NJ | $75,000 | 113.7 | $65,963 | #22 (+3) |
| 26 | Collegeville, PA | $73,900 | 95.6 | $77,301 | #11 (+15) |
| 27 | San Diego, CA | $72,900 | 138.5 | $52,635 | #27 |
| 28 | Waltham, MA | $72,500 | 146.5 | $49,488 | #29 (-1) |
| 29 | Cambridge, MA | $70,000 | 146.5 | $47,782 | #30 (-1) |
| 30 | Princeton, NE | $70,000 | 90.8 | $77,093 | #12 (+18) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists is in Evansville, IN at $300,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Evansville, IN offers the best purchasing power at $329,670 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Princeton, NE ranks #30 by nominal pay but climbs to #12 once cost of living is factored in (up 18 spots), making its $70,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: Andover, MA looks strong at #13 on nominal pay ($85,598) but its high cost of living drops it 11 spots to #24 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.