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 | TREMONTON, UT | $32,968 | 103.2 | $31,946 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | Marshall, MI | $31,200 | 90.6 | $34,437 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $31,200 | 92.3 | $33,803 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $29,120 | 113.1 | $25,747 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,000 | 91.0 | $28,571 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | Abbotsford, WI | $25,240 | 95.1 | $26,540 | #5 (+1) |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $22,500 | 102.8 | $21,887 | #7 |
| 8 | Uniontown, AL | $17,909 | 87.9 | $20,374 | #8 |
| 9 | Gastonia, NC | $17,222 | 95.7 | $17,996 | #9 |
| 10 | Hendersonville, NC | $17,056 | 95.7 | $17,822 | #10 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Packers and Packagers, Hand is in TREMONTON, UT at $32,968, but after cost-of-living adjustment Marshall, MI offers the best purchasing power at $34,437 equivalent.
- Beware: TREMONTON, UT looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($32,968) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Packers and Packagers, Hand wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.