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 | $74,940 | 125.1 | $59,904 | #2 (-1) |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $69,000 | 92.3 | $74,756 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $63,024 | 138.5 | $45,505 | #3 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary is in New York, NY at $74,940, but after cost-of-living adjustment Chicago, IL offers the best purchasing power at $74,756 equivalent.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($74,940) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #2 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.