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 | Cambridge, MA | $101,000 | 146.5 | $68,942 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | EAST LANSING, MI | $91,000 | 90.6 | $100,442 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | New York, NY | $90,378 | 125.1 | $72,245 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $60,000 | 138.5 | $43,321 | #4 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary is in Cambridge, MA at $101,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment EAST LANSING, MI offers the best purchasing power at $100,442 equivalent.
- Beware: Cambridge, MA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($101,000) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.