Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialistss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialistss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $119,254/year, better purchasing power than San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's higher nominal pay of $131,680. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$131,680
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$103,640
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$96,460

Best purchasing power

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$119,254
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$89,646
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$86,799

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialistss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$131,680
$119,254
#2
$103,640
$89,646
#3
$96,460
$86,799
#4
$92,180
$85,139
#5
Birmingham
20% rent burden
$76,800
$83,806
#6
Cleveland
20% rent burden
$76,970
$81,953
#7
$82,150
$81,904
#8
Albuquerque
22% rent burden
$78,100
$81,737
#9
Salem
22% rent burden
$84,350
$81,380
#10
Richmond
25% rent burden
$79,450
$81,187
#11
$88,320
$81,117
#12
Worcester
30% rent burden
$82,820
$80,784
#13
Green Bay
19% rent burden
$74,600
$80,138
#14
$85,360
$80,022
#15
St. Louis
19% rent burden
$75,930
$79,851
#16
Toledo
18% rent burden
$73,010
$79,836
#17
Omaha
22% rent burden
$73,300
$79,752
#18
Syracuse
22% rent burden
$76,050
$79,434
#19
Lansing-East Lansing
20% rent burden
$75,450
$79,429
#20
Rochester
24% rent burden
$77,060
$79,419
#21
Columbus
23% rent burden
$75,660
$79,250
#22
$83,050
$79,231
#23
$83,370
$79,084
#24
Kansas City
22% rent burden
$73,180
$79,079
#25
$80,450
$78,981

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialistss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $131,680 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $109,733 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialistss?

Toledo has one of the lowest rent burdens for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialistss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,076/month, with a median salary of $73,010.

Where do Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialistss get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays the highest nominal median salary at $131,680/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistssView →How to become a compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialistsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →