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 | Menlo Park, CA | $153,230 | 138.5 | $110,636 | #1 |
| 2 | Cupertino, CA | $145,600 | 138.5 | $105,126 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | Redmond, WA | $124,950 | 114.6 | $109,031 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | Mountain View, CA | $115,200 | 138.5 | $83,177 | #5 (-1) |
| 5 | San Bruno, CA | $115,000 | 138.5 | $83,033 | #6 (-1) |
| 6 | Sunnyvale, CA | $110,500 | 138.5 | $79,783 | #8 (-2) |
| 7 | Foster City, CA | $108,950 | 138.5 | $78,664 | #9 (-2) |
| 8 | Santa Clara, CA | $99,882 | 138.5 | $72,117 | #11 (-3) |
| 9 | Chatsworth, CA | $97,000 | 138.5 | $70,036 | #12 (-3) |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $95,000 | 138.5 | $68,592 | #13 (-3) |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $92,664 | 138.5 | $66,905 | #16 (-5) |
| 12 | Irvine, CA | $91,156 | 138.5 | $65,817 | #17 (-5) |
| 13 | Burbank, CA | $89,761 | 138.5 | $64,809 | #18 (-5) |
| 14 | Palo Alto, CA | $86,133 | 138.5 | $62,190 | #19 (-5) |
| 15 | Venice, CA | $85,567 | 138.5 | $61,781 | #20 (-5) |
| 16 | CARLSBAD, CA | $85,000 | 138.5 | $61,372 | #21 (-5) |
| 17 | Greenwich, CT | $83,603 | 112.8 | $74,116 | #10 (+7) |
| 18 | Redwood City, CA | $83,350 | 138.5 | $60,181 | #22 (-4) |
| 19 | San Mateo, CA | $83,200 | 138.5 | $60,072 | #23 (-4) |
| 20 | Glendale, CA | $83,200 | 138.5 | $60,072 | #24 (-4) |
| 21 | Woodland Hills, CA | $83,200 | 138.5 | $60,072 | #25 (-4) |
| 22 | New York, NE | $83,000 | 90.8 | $91,410 | #4 (+18) |
| 23 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $80,000 | 138.5 | $57,762 | #26 (-3) |
| 24 | Novato, CA | $80,000 | 138.5 | $57,762 | #27 (-3) |
| 25 | Culver City, CA | $80,000 | 138.5 | $57,762 | #28 (-3) |
| 26 | Bellevue, WA | $77,500 | 114.6 | $67,627 | #14 (+12) |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $77,500 | 114.6 | $67,627 | #15 (+12) |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $75,076 | 92.7 | $80,988 | #7 (+21) |
| 29 | Emeryville, CA | $75,000 | 138.5 | $54,152 | #29 |
| 30 | Burlingame, CA | $74,350 | 138.5 | $53,682 | #30 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators is in Menlo Park, CA at $153,230, but after cost-of-living adjustment Menlo Park, CA offers the best purchasing power at $110,636 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Austin, TX ranks #28 by nominal pay but climbs to #7 once cost of living is factored in (up 21 spots), making its $75,076 go a lot further.
- Beware: San Jose, CA looks strong at #11 on nominal pay ($92,664) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #16 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Special Effects Artists and Animators wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.