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 | Cupertino, CA | $143,999 | 138.5 | $103,970 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | Sunnyvale, CA | $134,550 | 138.5 | $97,148 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $132,080 | 138.5 | $95,365 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $120,000 | 114.6 | $104,712 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $109,000 | 138.5 | $78,700 | #8 (-3) |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $105,894 | 92.7 | $114,233 | #1 (+5) |
| 7 | New York, NY | $100,000 | 125.1 | $79,936 | #7 |
| 8 | Columbus, IN | $93,909 | 91.0 | $103,197 | #4 (+4) |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $88,442 | 138.5 | $63,857 | #10 (-1) |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $76,164 | 102.8 | $74,089 | #9 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Purchasing Managers is in Cupertino, CA at $143,999, but after cost-of-living adjustment Houston, TX offers the best purchasing power at $114,233 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Houston, TX ranks #6 by nominal pay but climbs to #1 once cost of living is factored in (up 5 spots), making its $105,894 go a lot further.
- Beware: Sunnyvale, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($134,550) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Purchasing Managers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.