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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Computer User Support Specialistss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Computer User Support Specialistss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $96,025/year, better purchasing power than Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom's higher nominal pay of $102,430. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$102,430
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$85,010
#3 Carson City$84,280

Best purchasing power

#1 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$96,025
#2 Carson City$85,886
#3 Vallejo$73,544

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed computer user support specialistss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$102,430
$96,025
#2
Carson City
22% rent burden
$84,280
$85,886
#3
Vallejo
33% rent burden
$79,780
$73,544
#4
$85,010
$73,532
#5
$80,930
$73,293
#6
El Centro
24% rent burden
$69,370
$72,891
#7
$78,260
$71,930
#8
$77,750
$71,811
#9
Pittsfield
30% rent burden
$68,110
$71,612
#10
Tuscaloosa
22% rent burden
$62,810
$71,603
#11
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
44% rent burden
$76,760
$71,219
#12
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
28% rent burden
$72,670
$70,939
#13
St. Cloud
23% rent burden
$61,820
$70,547
#14
Auburn-Opelika
19% rent burden
$61,720
$70,192
#15
Rochester
26% rent burden
$63,740
$70,183
#16
Ames
22% rent burden
$62,130
$69,943
#17
$74,490
$69,708
#18
Yuba City
26% rent burden
$72,360
$69,423
#19
$75,250
$69,113
#20
Yakima
25% rent burden
$65,200
$68,237
#21
Bismarck
23% rent burden
$61,950
$68,062
#22
Fond du Lac
23% rent burden
$62,350
$68,038
#23
Wildwood-The Villages
28% rent burden
$57,930
$67,818
#24
Midland
23% rent burden
$61,990
$67,439
#25
Syracuse
26% rent burden
$64,490
$67,360

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 Computer User Support Specialistss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $102,430 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $85,358 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 computer user support 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 Computer User Support Specialistss?

Auburn-Opelika has one of the lowest rent burdens for Computer User Support Specialistss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $995/month, with a median salary of $61,720.

Where do Computer User Support Specialistss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom pays the highest nominal median salary at $102,430/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Computer User Support SpecialistssView →How to become a computer user support specialistsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →