Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Chattanooga ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $109,709/year, better purchasing power than Chattanooga's higher nominal pay of $100,340. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Chattanooga$100,340
#2 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers$82,010
#3 Anchorage$73,500

Best purchasing power

#1 Chattanooga$109,709
#2 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers$89,776
#3 Syracuse$74,838

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed first-line supervisors of security workers excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Chattanooga
16% rent burden
$100,340
$109,709
#2
$82,010
$89,776
#3
Syracuse
25% rent burden
$71,650
$74,838
#4
Anchorage
25% rent burden
$73,500
$69,721
#5
Rochester
26% rent burden
$66,140
$68,164
#6
$65,060
$67,983
#7
Baton Rouge
22% rent burden
$61,530
$67,779
#8
$73,490
$67,496
#9
Oklahoma City
25% rent burden
$60,200
$66,586
#10
$64,000
$64,276
#11
Richmond
32% rent burden
$62,510
$63,877
#12
Wichita
22% rent burden
$56,720
$63,766
#13
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
28% rent burden
$60,910
$63,554
#14
Albuquerque
27% rent burden
$60,720
$63,548
#15
Tucson
27% rent burden
$61,460
$63,426
#16
Raleigh-Cary
33% rent burden
$61,710
$62,867
#17
Kansas City
32% rent burden
$57,800
$62,459
#18
Durham-Chapel Hill
35% rent burden
$60,200
$61,699
#19
St. Louis
28% rent burden
$58,330
$61,342
#20
$59,990
$61,252
#21
Tulsa
27% rent burden
$54,480
$61,069
#22
Fresno
28% rent burden
$61,790
$60,484
#23
Cleveland
27% rent burden
$56,760
$60,434
#24
Harrisburg-Carlisle
32% rent burden
$59,600
$60,416
#25
Reno
36% rent burden
$60,610
$60,004

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $100,340 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $83,617 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 first-line supervisors of security workers 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 First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers?

Chattanooga has one of the lowest rent burdens for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,340/month, with a median salary of $100,340.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers get paid the most in nominal terms?

Chattanooga pays the highest nominal median salary at $100,340/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersView →How to become a first-line supervisors of security workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →