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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loans by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loans the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Rochester ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $67,540/year, better purchasing power than San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's higher nominal pay of $70,840. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$70,840
#2 Vallejo$68,830
#3 Santa Cruz-Watsonville$63,690

Best purchasing power

#1 Rochester$67,540
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$64,155
#3 Vallejo$63,449

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed interviewers, except eligibility and loans excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Rochester
28% rent burden
$61,340
$67,540
#2
$70,840
$64,155
#3
Vallejo
38% rent burden
$68,830
$63,449
#4
Redding
31% rent burden
$61,390
$60,975
#5
Modesto
34% rent burden
$62,100
$59,648
#6
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
79% rent burden
$63,690
$57,953
#7
Stockton-Lodi
34% rent burden
$60,760
$57,817
#8
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
56% rent burden
$60,610
$56,235
#9
$63,020
$54,511
#10
Brownsville-Harlingen
27% rent burden
$46,560
$54,158
#11
$59,580
$53,904
#12
$59,420
$53,469
#13
Topeka
27% rent burden
$47,220
$53,164
#14
Bakersfield-Delano
34% rent burden
$52,790
$52,324
#15
$55,670
$51,262
#16
Ann Arbor
38% rent burden
$51,640
$51,190
#17
Duluth
33% rent burden
$45,270
$50,997
#18
$57,330
$50,933
#19
$54,950
$50,506
#20
$52,880
$50,161
#21
Visalia
35% rent burden
$50,040
$50,125
#22
South Bend-Mishawaka
26% rent burden
$46,410
$49,978
#23
Sioux Falls
31% rent burden
$44,800
$49,432
#24
Springfield
44% rent burden
$47,270
$49,209
#25
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
34% rent burden
$47,160
$49,207

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 Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loans?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $70,840 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $59,033 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 interviewers, except eligibility and loan 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 Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loans?

South Bend-Mishawaka has one of the lowest rent burdens for Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loans in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $993/month, with a median salary of $46,410.

Where do Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loans get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays the highest nominal median salary at $70,840/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoansView →How to become a interviewers, except eligibility and loanGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →