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 | Washington, DC | $101,046 | 146.0 | $69,210 | #4 (-3) |
| 2 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $100,000 | 138.5 | $72,202 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | New York, NE | $83,445 | 90.8 | $91,900 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | $78,499 | 138.5 | $56,678 | #7 (-3) |
| 5 | New York, NY | $72,800 | 125.1 | $58,193 | #6 (-1) |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $70,105 | 138.5 | $50,617 | #8 (-2) |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $66,700 | 92.3 | $72,264 | #2 (+5) |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $63,440 | 138.5 | $45,805 | #11 (-3) |
| 9 | BROOKLYN, NE | $62,000 | 90.8 | $68,282 | #5 (+4) |
| 10 | Brooklyn, NY | $61,650 | 125.1 | $49,281 | #10 |
| 11 | Burbank, CA | $60,000 | 138.5 | $43,321 | #12 (-1) |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $51,000 | 102.8 | $49,611 | #9 (+3) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Producers and Directors is in Washington, DC at $101,046, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $91,900 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #7 by nominal pay but climbs to #2 once cost of living is factored in (up 5 spots), making its $66,700 go a lot further.
- Beware: Washington, DC looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($101,046) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #4 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Producers and Directors wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.