Methodology
Every number on salary.city is computed from public government data. Here's exactly how.
Data Sources
| Dataset | Source | Update Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation Wages | Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) | Annual (May release) |
| Tech Offers (H-1B) | U.S. Department of Labor — OFLC LCA Disclosures | Annual |
| Cost of Living | Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (RPP) | Annual |
| Housing (Rent) | U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD FMR) | Annual (FY26) |
| Tax Rates | IRS.gov + Tax Foundation + State Revenue Departments | Annual (2024 brackets) |
Purchasing Power Index
Our Purchasing Power score answers: "How far does this salary go in this city compared to the national average?"
FORMULA:
Purchasing Power = (Salary / Cost-of-Living Index) × 100A score of 100 means the salary has exactly national-average purchasing power. Above 100 = your dollar goes further. Below 100 = the local cost of living eats into your earnings.
Tax Calculation
We estimate after-tax income using:
- Federal income tax — 2024 marginal tax brackets reflecting progressive taxation on gross income.
- FICA (Social Security & Medicare) — Fully integrated 7.65% flat rate up to the federal wage base limits.
- State income tax — Exact state-by-state effective and marginal computations.
Housing Affordability
We calculate two key housing metrics:
HUD 1B Fair Market Rent
We extract median 1-bedroom rental data directly from HUD FMR (Fair Market Rents) for all 100 metropolitan statistical areas.
Mtg Simulation
Homeownership is simulated using a 20% down payment, prevailing fixed rates, and a 30-year term on the metro's median home price.
Limitations
- BLS OES data is published annually and may lag instantaneous market fluctuations (though algorithmic inflation indexing mitigates this).
- Tax models default to a single-filer baseline. Household formations and complex deductions will yield different real-world net outcomes.
- Cost of living indices and HUD FMR reflect metro-level averages, masking neighborhood-specific premiums.
Data vintage: BLS OES May 2024 · Last page update: March 2026