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 | San Francisco, CA | $124,235 | 138.5 | $89,700 | #3 (-2) |
| 2 | New York, NY | $124,205 | 125.1 | $99,284 | #2 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $120,000 | 92.7 | $129,450 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $65,431 | 92.3 | $70,889 | #4 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Training and Development Managers is in San Francisco, CA at $124,235, but after cost-of-living adjustment Houston, TX offers the best purchasing power at $129,450 equivalent.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($124,235) but its high cost of living drops it 2 spots to #3 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Training and Development Managers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.