"OT" but interesting, Stan.
Here's Mercer's list of 40 U.S. cities and how a national median salary of $30,000 translates in each. The ranking is from the highest wage rate to the lowest.
2003 geographic salary differentials for select U.S. cities
(For a job with median national salary of $30,000)
bcentral.com
City 2003 Area
Average
(in $) % Difference
from National
Median
San Francisco 36,870 22.9
San Jose, Calif. 36,630 22.1
New York 36,060 20.2
Los Angeles 33,960 13.2
Boston 33,270 10.9
Chicago 33,270 10.9
Detroit 32,010 6.7
Washington, D.C. 32,010 6.7
Seattle 31,950 6.5
San Diego 31,770 5.9
Philadelphia 31,470 5.8
Denver 31,290 4.3
Dallas 31,170 3.9
Baltimore 31,110 3.7
Atlanta 31,050 3.5
Minneapolis 30,930 3.1
Cleveland 30,630 2.1
Portland, Ore. 30,570 1.9
Charlotte, N.C. 30,480 1.6
Houston 30,240 0.8
Las Vegas 30,150 0.5
Pittsburgh 29,820 -0.6
St. Louis 29,670 -1.1
Indianapolis 29,580 -1.4
Kansas City, Mo. 29,430 -1.9
Richmond, Va. 29,280 -2.4
Milwaukee 29,130 -2.9
Phoenix 29,040 -3.2
Miami 29,010 -3.3
Louisville, Ky. 28,770 -4.1
New Orleans 28,530 -4.9
Salt Lake City 28,170 -6.1
Buffalo, N.Y. 28,110 -6.3
Memphis, Tenn. 27,630 -7.9
Mobile, Ala. 27,630 -7.9
Omaha, Neb. 27,540 -8.2
Albuquerque, N.M. 27,270 -9.1
Asheville, N.C. 27,060 -9.8
Birmingham, Ala. 26,850 -10.5
Little Rock, Ark. 26,820 -10.6
Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting, 2003 Geographic Salary Differentials Survey |
