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 | Washington, DC | $83,200 | 146.0 | $56,986 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | Cambridge, MA | $73,980 | 146.5 | $50,498 | #5 (-3) |
| 3 | New York, NY | $68,000 | 125.1 | $54,357 | #4 (-1) |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $66,589 | 138.5 | $48,078 | #6 (-2) |
| 5 | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,000 | 90.6 | $66,225 | #1 (+4) |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $57,631 | 92.7 | $62,170 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | Princeton, NJ | $50,000 | 113.7 | $43,975 | #7 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other is in Washington, DC at $83,200, but after cost-of-living adjustment Ann Arbor, MI offers the best purchasing power at $66,225 equivalent.
- Beware: Cambridge, MA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($73,980) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #5 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.