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 | Chesterfield, MO | $91,678 | 88.5 | $103,590 | #1 |
| 2 | Johnston, IA | $91,146 | 90.3 | $100,937 | #2 |
| 3 | Research Triangle Park, NC | $80,600 | 95.7 | $84,222 | #3 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $70,000 | 88.5 | $79,096 | #4 |
| 5 | Salinas, CA | $57,800 | 138.5 | $41,733 | #22 (-17) |
| 6 | Oak Ridge, TN | $55,590 | 90.3 | $61,561 | #5 (+1) |
| 7 | Stanford, CA | $52,000 | 138.5 | $37,545 | #24 (-17) |
| 8 | Davis, CA | $50,741 | 138.5 | $36,636 | #25 (-17) |
| 9 | ITHACA, NY | $49,450 | 125.1 | $39,528 | #23 (-14) |
| 10 | Riverside, CA | $48,216 | 138.5 | $34,813 | #27 (-17) |
| 11 | Gainesville, FL | $48,090 | 102.8 | $46,780 | #16 (-5) |
| 12 | St. Paul, MN | $47,878 | 94.6 | $50,610 | #10 (+2) |
| 13 | Athens, GA | $47,476 | 91.0 | $52,171 | #7 (+6) |
| 14 | Ames, IA | $47,476 | 90.3 | $52,576 | #6 (+8) |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $46,987 | 95.7 | $49,098 | #12 (+3) |
| 16 | University Park, PA | $46,734 | 95.6 | $48,885 | #13 (+3) |
| 17 | West Lafayette, IN | $46,063 | 91.0 | $50,618 | #9 (+8) |
| 18 | Lubbock, TX | $45,996 | 92.7 | $49,618 | #11 (+7) |
| 19 | Manhattan, KS | $45,261 | 87.1 | $51,964 | #8 (+11) |
| 20 | EAST LANSING, MI | $44,125 | 90.6 | $48,703 | #14 (+6) |
| 21 | Lincoln, NE | $44,031 | 90.8 | $48,492 | #15 (+6) |
| 22 | College Station, TX | $41,166 | 92.7 | $44,408 | #19 (+3) |
| 23 | Columbia, MO | $41,000 | 88.5 | $46,328 | #17 (+6) |
| 24 | Pullman, WA | $40,418 | 114.6 | $35,268 | #26 (-2) |
| 25 | Madison, WI | $40,000 | 95.1 | $42,061 | #21 (+4) |
| 26 | Fargo, ND | $39,957 | 94.6 | $42,238 | #20 (+6) |
| 27 | Ardmore, OK | $39,270 | 86.2 | $45,557 | #18 (+9) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Soil and Plant Scientists is in Chesterfield, MO at $91,678, but after cost-of-living adjustment Chesterfield, MO offers the best purchasing power at $103,590 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Manhattan, KS ranks #19 by nominal pay but climbs to #8 once cost of living is factored in (up 11 spots), making its $45,261 go a lot further.
- Beware: Salinas, CA looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($57,800) but its high cost of living drops it 17 spots to #22 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Soil and Plant Scientists wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.