Real Purchasing Power by Role and Region
COLA-adjusted salary reveals which role-region combinations stretch furthest after local costs are considered
This slide brings the focus together by translating nominal salary into COLA-adjusted purchasing power for each role-region combination. It shows where the combination of salary level and local cost structure produces the strongest real economic value.
Interpretation
Each cell shows nominal salary adjusted by local COLA using salary / (COLA / 100). Darker green cells indicate stronger real purchasing power after accounting for local costs. Remote is excluded because it has no geographic COLA anchor.
Key Finding
High nominal salaries do not always produce the strongest real outcome. Roles in the Midwest and Southwest often hold up well after COLA adjustment, while some high-salary coastal roles lose ground once local costs are accounted for.
This final view complements the earlier nominal salary charts by showing the practical buying power of each role-region combination, not just the posted salary level.