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 | FRESNO, CA | $143,364 | 138.5 | $103,512 | #22 (-21) |
| 2 | Yuma, AZ | $134,160 | 108.4 | $123,764 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $128,180 | 114.6 | $111,850 | #17 (-14) |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $126,880 | 138.5 | $91,610 | #27 (-23) |
| 5 | Santa Maria, CA | $123,323 | 138.5 | $89,042 | #28 (-23) |
| 6 | EL PASO, TX | $122,200 | 92.7 | $131,823 | #1 (+5) |
| 7 | Porterville, CA | $121,597 | 138.5 | $87,796 | #29 (-22) |
| 8 | Fredericksburg, VA | $117,000 | 100.7 | $116,187 | #14 (-6) |
| 9 | Saginaw, MI | $115,960 | 90.6 | $127,991 | #2 (+7) |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $115,770 | 108.4 | $106,799 | #21 (-11) |
| 11 | Flint, MI | $115,629 | 90.6 | $127,626 | #3 (+8) |
| 12 | Bridgeport, CT | $114,546 | 112.8 | $101,548 | #23 (-11) |
| 13 | Kissimmee, FL | $114,400 | 102.8 | $111,284 | #18 (-5) |
| 14 | New Haven, CT | $114,400 | 112.8 | $101,418 | #24 (-10) |
| 15 | Louisville, KY | $114,366 | 92.9 | $123,107 | #6 (+9) |
| 16 | Orlando, FL | $113,225 | 102.8 | $110,141 | #19 (-3) |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $112,923 | 146.0 | $77,345 | #30 (-13) |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $112,320 | 90.6 | $123,974 | #4 (+14) |
| 19 | Irving, TX | $110,760 | 92.7 | $119,482 | #7 (+12) |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $110,500 | 92.7 | $119,202 | #8 (+12) |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $110,000 | 92.7 | $118,662 | #9 (+12) |
| 22 | Lubbock, TX | $109,834 | 92.7 | $118,484 | #11 (+11) |
| 23 | Baltimore, MD | $108,888 | 116.5 | $93,466 | #26 (-3) |
| 24 | DALLAS, TX | $107,994 | 92.7 | $116,498 | #13 (+11) |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,224 | 95.6 | $112,159 | #16 (+9) |
| 26 | Indianapolis, IN | $107,203 | 91.0 | $117,806 | #12 (+14) |
| 27 | Nashville, TN | $107,078 | 90.3 | $118,580 | #10 (+17) |
| 28 | Fort Worth, TX | $106,350 | 92.7 | $114,725 | #15 (+13) |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $104,500 | 95.1 | $109,884 | #20 (+9) |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $104,166 | 102.8 | $101,329 | #25 (+5) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Pharmacists is in FRESNO, CA at $143,364, but after cost-of-living adjustment EL PASO, TX offers the best purchasing power at $131,823 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Nashville, TN ranks #27 by nominal pay but climbs to #10 once cost of living is factored in (up 17 spots), making its $107,078 go a lot further.
- Beware: Bakersfield, CA looks strong at #4 on nominal pay ($126,880) but its high cost of living drops it 23 spots to #27 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Pharmacists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.