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 | Lemont, IL | $105,804 | 92.3 | $114,631 | #1 |
| 2 | Idaho Falls, ID | $99,408 | 103.1 | $96,419 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | Oak Ridge, TN | $96,504 | 90.3 | $106,870 | #2 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Nuclear Engineers is in Lemont, IL at $105,804, but after cost-of-living adjustment Lemont, IL offers the best purchasing power at $114,631 equivalent.
- Beware: Idaho Falls, ID looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($99,408) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Nuclear Engineers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.