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 | $100,000 | 146.5 | $68,259 | #1 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $87,750 | 146.0 | $60,103 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | New York, NY | $81,645 | 125.1 | $65,264 | #2 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary is in Cambridge, MA at $100,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment Cambridge, MA offers the best purchasing power at $68,259 equivalent.
- Beware: Washington, DC looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($87,750) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.