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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agentss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agentss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $103,609/year, better purchasing power than San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont's higher nominal pay of $110,780. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$110,780
#2 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury$105,480
#3 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands$102,190

Best purchasing power

#1 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands$103,609
#2 Buffalo-Cheektowaga$99,896
#3 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury$98,709

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$102,190
$103,609
#2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
17% rent burden
$95,740
$99,896
#3
$105,480
$98,709
#4
Cleveland
17% rent burden
$92,520
$98,509
#5
$110,780
$95,822
#6
$96,320
$93,433
#7
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
23% rent burden
$95,060
$92,005
#8
$93,590
$90,347
#9
$92,540
$90,063
#10
$99,300
$89,929
#11
St. Louis
18% rent burden
$83,390
$87,696
#12
$91,940
$86,377
#13
$97,680
$86,009
#14
Birmingham
20% rent burden
$74,670
$81,482
#15
$81,540
$81,296
#16
Trenton-Princeton
28% rent burden
$83,110
$80,549
#17
Columbus
23% rent burden
$76,110
$79,721
#18
$86,300
$77,657
#19
$74,730
$77,569
#20
Salt Lake City-Murray
19% rent burden
$77,500
$76,832
#21
$86,340
$76,706
#22
$76,320
$76,152
#23
$79,000
$75,367
#24
$81,320
$74,688
#25
$73,670
$73,692

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 Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agentss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $110,780 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $92,317 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 tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents 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 Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agentss?

Buffalo-Cheektowaga has one of the lowest rent burdens for Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agentss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,343/month, with a median salary of $95,740.

Where do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agentss get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays the highest nominal median salary at $110,780/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentssView →How to become a tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agentsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →