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 | $75,575 | 146.0 | $51,763 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | New York, NY | $69,000 | 125.1 | $55,156 | #2 |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,000 | 90.6 | $66,225 | #1 (+2) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Sociologists is in Washington, DC at $75,575, but after cost-of-living adjustment Ann Arbor, MI offers the best purchasing power at $66,225 equivalent.
- Beware: Washington, DC looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($75,575) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Sociologists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.