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, NE | $175,000 | 90.8 | $192,731 | #1 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $155,000 | 125.1 | $123,901 | #4 (-2) |
| 3 | Stamford, CT | $150,000 | 112.8 | $132,979 | #3 |
| 4 | Newport Beach, CA | $150,000 | 138.5 | $108,303 | #7 (-3) |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $132,500 | 138.5 | $95,668 | #10 (-5) |
| 6 | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $129,168 | 113.7 | $113,604 | #5 (+1) |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $124,946 | 92.7 | $134,785 | #2 (+5) |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $120,000 | 146.5 | $81,911 | #11 (-3) |
| 9 | Greenwich, CT | $120,000 | 112.8 | $106,383 | #8 (+1) |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $111,500 | 138.5 | $80,505 | #12 (-2) |
| 11 | Coral Gables, FL | $105,367 | 102.8 | $102,497 | #9 (+2) |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 92.3 | $108,342 | #6 (+6) |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $80,000 | 102.8 | $77,821 | #13 |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $39,000 | 88.5 | $44,068 | #14 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents is in New York, NE at $175,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $192,731 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #12 by nominal pay but climbs to #6 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $100,000 go a lot further.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($132,500) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #10 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.