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 | New York, NY | $55,000 | 125.1 | $43,965 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $55,000 | 90.8 | $60,573 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | BROOKLYN, NE | $48,000 | 90.8 | $52,863 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | Brooklyn, NY | $45,000 | 125.1 | $35,971 | #4 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is in New York, NY at $55,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $60,573 equivalent.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($55,000) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.