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 | Greenwood Village, CO | $138,403 | 105.5 | $131,188 | #1 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $126,000 | 105.5 | $119,431 | #2 |
| 3 | Carlin, NV | $96,000 | 101.2 | $94,862 | #3 |
| 4 | Morenci, AZ | $80,000 | 108.4 | $73,801 | #5 (-1) |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $76,800 | 92.7 | $82,848 | #4 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers is in Greenwood Village, CO at $138,403, but after cost-of-living adjustment Greenwood Village, CO offers the best purchasing power at $131,188 equivalent.
- Beware: Morenci, AZ looks strong at #4 on nominal pay ($80,000) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.