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 | Kansas City, MO | $85,228 | 88.5 | $96,303 | #1 |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, UT | $85,228 | 103.2 | $82,585 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $85,228 | 94.0 | $90,668 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $78,749 | 116.5 | $67,596 | #4 |
| 5 | Princeton, NJ | $70,000 | 113.7 | $61,566 | #6 (-1) |
| 6 | Mamaroneck, NY | $69,069 | 125.1 | $55,211 | #11 (-5) |
| 7 | Bethesda, MD | $68,633 | 116.5 | $58,912 | #8 (-1) |
| 8 | Stockton, CA | $68,159 | 138.5 | $49,212 | #21 (-13) |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $66,879 | 138.5 | $48,288 | #22 (-13) |
| 10 | New York, NY | $65,000 | 125.1 | $51,958 | #16 (-6) |
| 11 | Cambridge, MA | $63,190 | 146.5 | $43,133 | #25 (-14) |
| 12 | Bronx, NY | $60,000 | 125.1 | $47,962 | #23 (-11) |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $58,775 | 146.0 | $40,257 | #26 (-13) |
| 14 | BROOKLYN, NE | $57,845 | 90.8 | $63,706 | #5 (+9) |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $56,110 | 92.3 | $60,791 | #7 (+8) |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $54,914 | 138.5 | $39,649 | #28 (-12) |
| 17 | Savannah, GA | $52,000 | 91.0 | $57,143 | #9 (+8) |
| 18 | Louisville, KY | $51,706 | 92.9 | $55,658 | #10 (+8) |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $50,873 | 95.3 | $53,381 | #14 (+5) |
| 20 | Brooklyn, NY | $49,908 | 125.1 | $39,894 | #27 (-7) |
| 21 | DALLAS, TX | $49,650 | 92.7 | $53,559 | #12 (+9) |
| 22 | Memphis, TN | $48,343 | 90.3 | $53,536 | #13 (+9) |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $47,618 | 102.8 | $46,321 | #24 (-1) |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,310 | 138.5 | $34,159 | #29 (-5) |
| 25 | VALLEJO, CA | $46,809 | 138.5 | $33,797 | #30 (-5) |
| 26 | New Orleans, LA | $46,790 | 91.3 | $51,249 | #17 (+9) |
| 27 | Garland, TX | $46,740 | 92.7 | $50,421 | #18 (+9) |
| 28 | Topeka, KS | $46,190 | 87.1 | $53,031 | #15 (+13) |
| 29 | Sugar Land, TX | $46,050 | 92.7 | $49,676 | #19 (+10) |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $46,050 | 92.7 | $49,676 | #20 (+10) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is in Kansas City, MO at $85,228, but after cost-of-living adjustment Kansas City, MO offers the best purchasing power at $96,303 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Topeka, KS ranks #28 by nominal pay but climbs to #15 once cost of living is factored in (up 13 spots), making its $46,190 go a lot further.
- Beware: Cambridge, MA looks strong at #11 on nominal pay ($63,190) but its high cost of living drops it 14 spots to #25 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.