Metro Salary Comparison Tool

Free salary comparison, no login required. Select an occupation and 2 to 3 metro areas to see side-by-side pay ranges, cost-adjusted salaries, and employment data. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics across all 50 states; see our methodology.

Select an Occupation and Two Metro Areas

Choose any occupation from 830+ tracked by the BLS, then pick 2 to 3 metro areas to see how salaries compare, including full percentile ranges and cost-adjusted pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I compare metro salaries?

Select an occupation, then pick two or three metro areas from the dropdowns. The tool shows side-by-side salary percentiles (10th to 90th), cost-adjusted median pay, and employment counts for each area using official BLS data.

Why compare metro areas instead of states?

Metro estimates provide a more local published geography than statewide estimates. Coverage and reported values can differ by occupation, so compare the same statistic and source vintage.

What is the cost-adjusted salary?

It is the published occupation median divided by the metro Regional Price Parity index from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and scaled to the national baseline. It is a formula-based benchmark, not personal purchasing power.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Cost-of-living data: Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities.