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 | $83,857 | 125.1 | $67,032 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $82,400 | 138.5 | $59,495 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | New York, NE | $78,517 | 90.8 | $86,472 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $70,000 | 92.3 | $75,840 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $60,000 | 92.7 | $64,725 | #4 (+1) |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $60,000 | 102.8 | $58,366 | #6 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products is in New York, NY at $83,857, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $86,472 equivalent.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($82,400) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.