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 | $96,000 | 125.1 | $76,739 | #1 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $85,000 | 146.0 | $58,219 | #2 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $77,095 | 138.5 | $55,664 | #3 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Political Scientists is in New York, NY at $96,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NY offers the best purchasing power at $76,739 equivalent.
Salary Check
Are you a Political Scientists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.