NextChapter

Best cities for pay after cost of living

Foster City leads the United States for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $209k buys at average US prices.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Foster City, CA: $209k
  • #2 San Mateo, CA: $201k
  • #3 Redmond, WA: $195k
  • 100 cities ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: $141k across the typical city in our data.

  1. 1Foster City CA$209k
  2. 2San Mateo CA$201k
  3. 3Redmond WA$195k
  4. 4Mountain View CA$193k
  5. 5Chantilly VA$192k
  6. 6Sunnyvale CA$192k
  7. 7Santa Clara CA$191k
  8. 8Cambridge MA$187k
  9. 9Palo Alto CA$186k
  10. 10San Francisco CA$186k

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Foster City leads on $209k, and #10 San Francisco is at $186k.
  • Chantilly reaches #5 on a sample of 54 openings with pay posted, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • San Francisco is the largest market in the top ten, with 6,390 openings with pay posted behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 200 openings with pay posted are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

A salary buys different amounts in different places. This list adjusts posted pay by the local price level, so it ranks what the pay is worth rather than the number on the posting.

How to use it

Use it to compare two offers or two cities. A lower headline salary in a cheaper place can leave you ahead of a higher one in an expensive metro.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Foster City CA

    $209k

    Median posted pay
    $232k
    State prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    201

    Hiring most here: Gilead Sciences, Zoox, Replit

    Based on 201 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Foster City

  2. 2

    San Mateo CA

    $201k

    Median posted pay
    $232k
    Local prices vs US average
    +16%
    Openings with pay posted
    623

    Hiring most here: Roblox, Verkada, Skydio

    Based on 623 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in San Mateo

  3. 3

    Redmond WA

    $195k

    Median posted pay
    $209k
    State prices vs US average
    +7%
    Openings with pay posted
    182

    Hiring most here: Amazon, SpaceX, Microsoft

    Based on 182 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Redmond

  4. 4

    Mountain View CA

    $193k

    Median posted pay
    $213k
    Local prices vs US average
    +10%
    Openings with pay posted
    824

    Hiring most here: Intuit, Google, Waymo

    Based on 824 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Mountain View

  5. 5

    Chantilly VA

    $192k

    Median posted pay
    $194k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    54

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Trinzic, Peraton

    Based on 54 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Chantilly

  6. 6

    Sunnyvale CA

    $192k

    Median posted pay
    $212k
    State prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    503

    Hiring most here: Applied Intuition, Amazon, Wayve

    Based on 503 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Sunnyvale

  7. 7

    Santa Clara CA

    $191k

    Median posted pay
    $212k
    State prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    657

    Hiring most here: Nvidia, Pure Storage, Advanced Micro Devices

    Based on 657 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Clara

  8. 8

    Cambridge MA

    $187k

    Median posted pay
    $198k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    326

    Hiring most here: Harvard University, Biogen, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

    Based on 326 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Cambridge

  9. 9

    Palo Alto CA

    $186k

    Median posted pay
    $206k
    Local prices vs US average
    +10%
    Openings with pay posted
    386

    Hiring most here: SpaceX, Rivian Automotive, Stanford Health Care

    Based on 386 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Palo Alto

  10. 10

    San Francisco CA

    $186k

    Median posted pay
    $215k
    Local prices vs US average
    +16%
    Openings with pay posted
    6,390

    Hiring most here: OpenAI, Anthropic, University Of California San Francisco Foundation

    Based on 6,390 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in San Francisco

  11. 11

    Bellevue WA

    $184k

    Median posted pay
    $197k
    State prices vs US average
    +7%
    Openings with pay posted
    303

    Hiring most here: Amazon, TerraPower, Okta

    Based on 303 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Bellevue

  12. 12

    Waltham MA

    $182k

    Median posted pay
    $193k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    214

    Hiring most here: Boston Dynamics, Anduril Industries, Xometry

    Based on 214 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Waltham

  13. 13

    San Jose CA

    $181k

    Median posted pay
    $200k
    Local prices vs US average
    +10%
    Openings with pay posted
    550

    Hiring most here: Super Micro Computer, Advanced Micro Devices, Cisco Systems

    Based on 550 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in San Jose

  14. 14

    Alameda CA

    $176k

    Median posted pay
    $195k
    State prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    101

    Hiring most here: Saildrone, Abbott, Penumbra

    Based on 101 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Alameda

  15. 15

    San Carlos CA

    $176k

    Median posted pay
    $195k
    State prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    96

    Hiring most here: 1X Technologies, Joby Aviation, Natera

    Based on 96 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in San Carlos

  16. 16

    Princeton NJ

    $176k

    Median posted pay
    $191k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    131

    Hiring most here: Genmab A/S, Otsuka, ZS Associates

    Based on 131 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Princeton

  17. 17

    Menlo Park CA

    $169k

    Median posted pay
    $195k
    Local prices vs US average
    +16%
    Openings with pay posted
    142

    Hiring most here: Snowflake, Hippocratic AI, Exponent

    Based on 142 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Menlo Park

  18. 18

    Austin TX

    $168k

    Median posted pay
    $165k
    Local prices vs US average
    −2%
    Openings with pay posted
    1,183

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices, Cloudflare

    Based on 1,183 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Austin

  19. 19

    Redwood City CA

    $167k

    Median posted pay
    $193k
    Local prices vs US average
    +16%
    Openings with pay posted
    225

    Hiring most here: Corcept Therapeutics, SB Energy, C3 AI

    Based on 225 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Redwood City

  20. 20

    Huntsville AL

    $164k

    Median posted pay
    $146k
    State prices vs US average
    −11%
    Openings with pay posted
    140

    Hiring most here: Northrop Grumman, L3HARRIS Technologies, Blue Origin

    Based on 140 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Huntsville

  21. 21

    Oakland CA

    $163k

    Median posted pay
    $181k
    State prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    148

    Hiring most here: Pacific Gas & Electric, Blue Shield of California, Fivetran

    Based on 148 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Oakland

  22. 22

    Seattle WA

    $162k

    Median posted pay
    $180k
    Local prices vs US average
    +11%
    Openings with pay posted
    1,186

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Blue Origin, Shield AI

    Based on 1,186 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Seattle

  23. 23

    Lexington MA

    $162k

    Median posted pay
    $172k
    State prices vs US average
    +6%
    Openings with pay posted
    74

    Hiring most here: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Lincoln Lab), Takeda Development Center Americas, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International

    Based on 74 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Lexington

  24. 24

    Wilmington DE

    $162k

    Median posted pay
    $161k
    State prices vs US average
    −0%
    Openings with pay posted
    56

    Hiring most here: Astrazeneca, Sargent & Lundy, CSC

    Based on 56 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Wilmington

  25. 25

    Herndon VA

    $161k

    Median posted pay
    $163k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    176

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 176 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

Full ranking

All 100 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Foster City CA$209k201
2San Mateo CA$201k623
3Redmond WA$195k182
4Mountain View CA$193k824
5Chantilly VA$192k54
6Sunnyvale CA$192k503
7Santa Clara CA$191k657
8Cambridge MA$187k326
9Palo Alto CA$186k386
10San Francisco CA$186k6,390
11Bellevue WA$184k303
12Waltham MA$182k214
13San Jose CA$181k550
14Alameda CA$176k101
15San Carlos CA$176k96
16Princeton NJ$176k131
17Menlo Park CA$169k142
18Austin TX$168k1,183
19Redwood City CA$167k225
20Huntsville AL$164k140
21Oakland CA$163k148
22Seattle WA$162k1,186
23Lexington MA$162k74
24Wilmington DE$162k56
25Herndon VA$161k176
26Mc Lean VA$161k71
27Ann Arbor MI$159k133
28McLean VA$158k274
29Reston VA$158k189
30Boston MA$157k1,622
31Somerville MA$155k235
32Addison TX$155k90
33Santa Ana CA$154k122
34Fremont CA$152k144
35Santa Monica CA$151k77
36New York NY$150k8,031
37Milpitas CA$149k92
38Washington DC$149k1,701
39Jersey City NJ$149k97
40Torrance CA$149k324
41Des Moines IA$147k56
42Arlington VA$146k535
43Nashville TN$145k199
44Irvine CA$145k490
45El Segundo CA$145k362
46Boulder CO$144k143
47Broomfield CO$144k63
48Berkeley CA$144k106
49Harrisburg PA$143k65
50Rockville MD$143k99
51Westminster CO$143k111
52Fort Meade MD$142k84
53Plano TX$141k77
54Eden Prairie MN$141k82
55Burlington MA$140k66
56Long Beach CA$140k461
57Stamford CT$140k63
58Aurora CO$139k66
59Birmingham AL$139k54
60Alexandria VA$139k158
61San Diego CA$139k723
62United PA$138k65
63Dallas TX$138k750
64Atlanta GA$138k931
65Irving TX$138k112
66Pittsburgh PA$138k186
67Bethesda MD$137k109
68Manassas VA$137k60
69Salt Lake City UT$137k213
70Los Angeles CA$136k1,667
71Alpharetta GA$136k119
72Newport Beach CA$136k65
73Chicago IL$135k2,163
74Parsippany NJ$135k72
75Mundelein IL$134k80
76Denver CO$133k840
77Raleigh NC$133k246
78Indianapolis IN$132k168
79Reno NV$132k55
80Philadelphia PA$132k349
81Sacramento CA$131k388
82Charlotte NC$131k491
83Boise ID$131k70
84Dayton OH$131k50
85Hartford CT$130k63
86Springfield VA$129k56
87Durham NC$129k58
88Houston TX$127k436
89Culver City CA$127k51
90Newark NJ$127k114
91Brooklyn NY$126k174
92Detroit MI$126k76
93Louisville KY$126k566
94Tucson AZ$125k75
95Kansas City MO$125k113
96Springfield IL$125k104
97Baltimore MD$124k188
98Minneapolis MN$124k303
99Annapolis MD$124k101
100Scottsdale AZ$124k100

How this ranking works

The score is a city's median posted annual salary (the midpoint of each posted range) divided by its local price level, with the United States at 100.

Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the city's metro area, or its state where no metro figure exists. Only cities with at least 50 listings that post a salary are ranked.

A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 200 openings with pay posted are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: posted annual salary ranges; Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024 (metro areas and states). Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which city ranks first: best cities for pay after cost of living?
Foster City leads the United States for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $209k buys at average US prices.
How many cities are ranked?
100 cities have at least 200 openings with pay posted, so the list has 100 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
The score is a city's median posted annual salary (the midpoint of each posted range) divided by its local price level, with the United States at 100. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the city's metro area, or its state where no metro figure exists. Only cities with at least 50 listings that post a salary are ranked. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Best cities for pay after cost of living,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living">Best cities for pay after cost of living (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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