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 | Baltimore, MD | $80,213 | 116.5 | $68,852 | #1 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $60,000 | 138.5 | $43,321 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $53,145 | 92.7 | $57,330 | #2 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School is in Baltimore, MD at $80,213, but after cost-of-living adjustment Baltimore, MD offers the best purchasing power at $68,852 equivalent.
- Beware: San Jose, CA looks strong at #2 on nominal pay ($60,000) but its high cost of living drops it 1 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.