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 | $60,000 | 125.1 | $47,962 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $59,796 | 90.8 | $65,855 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $53,997 | 146.5 | $36,858 | #4 (-1) |
| 4 | Richardson, TX | $50,973 | 92.7 | $54,987 | #2 (+2) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Psychologists, All Other is in New York, NY at $60,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $65,855 equivalent.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($60,000) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Psychologists, All Other wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.