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 | Brooklyn, NY | $71,073 | 125.1 | $56,813 | #1 |
| 2 | College Station, TX | $46,077 | 92.7 | $49,705 | #2 |
| 3 | ARTESIA, CA | $40,000 | 138.5 | $28,881 | #5 (-2) |
| 4 | Forest Lake, MI | $37,750 | 90.6 | $41,667 | #3 (+1) |
| 5 | HADLEY, MA | $36,000 | 146.5 | $24,573 | #8 (-3) |
| 6 | New York, NY | $36,000 | 125.1 | $28,777 | #6 |
| 7 | Forest Lake, MN | $30,000 | 94.6 | $31,712 | #4 (+3) |
| 8 | Englewood Cliffs, NJ | $29,120 | 113.7 | $25,611 | #7 (+1) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Teachers and Instructors, All Other is in Brooklyn, NY at $71,073, but after cost-of-living adjustment Brooklyn, NY offers the best purchasing power at $56,813 equivalent.
- Beware: HADLEY, MA looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($36,000) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #8 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Teachers and Instructors, All Other wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.