NextChapter

Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Mid-Atlantic

Chantilly leads the Mid-Atlantic for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $192k buys at average US prices.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Chantilly, VA: $192k
  • #2 Princeton, NJ: $176k
  • #3 Wilmington, DE: $162k
  • 37 cities ranked in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: $136k across the typical city in our data.

  1. 1Chantilly VA$192k
  2. 2Princeton NJ$176k
  3. 3Wilmington DE$162k
  4. 4Herndon VA$161k
  5. 5Mc Lean VA$161k
  6. 6McLean VA$158k
  7. 7Reston VA$158k
  8. 8New York NY$150k
  9. 9Washington DC$149k
  10. 10Jersey City NJ$149k

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Chantilly leads on $192k, and #10 Jersey City is at $149k.
  • Chantilly reaches #1 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.
  • New York is the largest market in the top ten, with 8,031 openings with pay posted behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 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

    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

  2. 2

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    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

  5. 5

    Mc Lean VA

    $161k

    Median posted pay
    $163k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    71

    Hiring most here: Capital One, Booz Allen Hamilton, Sunrise Senior Living

    Based on 71 openings with pay posted.

  6. 6

    McLean VA

    $158k

    Median posted pay
    $160k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    274

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 274 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  7. 7

    Reston VA

    $158k

    Median posted pay
    $160k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    189

    Hiring most here: ICF International, CACI International, Anduril Industries

    Based on 189 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Reston

  8. 8

    New York NY

    $150k

    Median posted pay
    $169k
    Local prices vs US average
    +13%
    Openings with pay posted
    8,031

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 8,031 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  9. 9

    Washington DC

    $149k

    Median posted pay
    $163k
    Local prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    1,701

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, Confidential, Shield AI

    Based on 1,701 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Washington

  10. 10

    Jersey City NJ

    $149k

    Median posted pay
    $162k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    97

    Hiring most here: DTCC, JPMorgan Chase, Verisk Analytics

    Based on 97 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Jersey City

  11. 11

    Arlington VA

    $146k

    Median posted pay
    $148k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    535

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Bloomberg Industry Group

    Based on 535 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  12. 12

    Harrisburg PA

    $143k

    Median posted pay
    $140k
    State prices vs US average
    −2%
    Openings with pay posted
    65

    Hiring most here: GSK, Michels, Parsons

    Based on 65 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Harrisburg

  13. 13

    Rockville MD

    $143k

    Median posted pay
    $150k
    State prices vs US average
    +5%
    Openings with pay posted
    99

    Hiring most here: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, The Emmes Company, BAE Systems

    Based on 99 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Rockville

  14. 14

    Fort Meade MD

    $142k

    Median posted pay
    $149k
    State prices vs US average
    +5%
    Openings with pay posted
    84

    Hiring most here: Peraton, CACI International, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 84 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Meade

  15. 15

    Alexandria VA

    $139k

    Median posted pay
    $140k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    158

    Hiring most here: Kearney, Patent and Trademark Office, Analytic Services (ANSER)

    Based on 158 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Alexandria

  16. 16

    United PA

    $138k

    Median posted pay
    $135k
    State prices vs US average
    −2%
    Openings with pay posted
    65

    Based on 65 openings with pay posted.

  17. 17

    Pittsburgh PA

    $138k

    Median posted pay
    $131k
    Local prices vs US average
    −5%
    Openings with pay posted
    186

    Hiring most here: PNC Financial Services Group, Highmark Health, UPMC

    Based on 186 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Pittsburgh

  18. 18

    Bethesda MD

    $137k

    Median posted pay
    $144k
    State prices vs US average
    +5%
    Openings with pay posted
    109

    Hiring most here: Black Canyon Consulting, ZoomInfo, Leidos

    Based on 109 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Bethesda

  19. 19

    Manassas VA

    $137k

    Median posted pay
    $139k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    60

    Hiring most here: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Electra.Aero, Holder Construction

    Based on 60 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Manassas

  20. 20

    Parsippany NJ

    $135k

    Median posted pay
    $147k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    72

    Hiring most here: Langan, Clark Davis Associates, Ferrero North America

    Based on 72 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Parsippany

  21. 21

    Fort Belvoir VA

    $134k

    Median posted pay
    $135k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    67

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Peraton, Teksynap

    Based on 67 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Belvoir

  22. 22

    Philadelphia PA

    $132k

    Median posted pay
    $135k
    Local prices vs US average
    +3%
    Openings with pay posted
    349

    Hiring most here: Confidential, GSK, Comcast

    Based on 349 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Philadelphia

  23. 23

    Vienna VA

    $131k

    Median posted pay
    $133k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    93

    Hiring most here: Esri, Navy Federal Credit Union, Antithesis

    Based on 93 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Vienna

  24. 24

    Springfield VA

    $129k

    Median posted pay
    $131k
    State prices vs US average
    +1%
    Openings with pay posted
    56

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Caci Technologies, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 56 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

  25. 25

    Newark NJ

    $127k

    Median posted pay
    $138k
    State prices vs US average
    +9%
    Openings with pay posted
    114

    Hiring most here: Broadridge Financial Solutions, Amazon, Audible

    Based on 114 openings with pay posted.

    Jobs and employers in Newark

Full ranking

All 37 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Chantilly VA$192k54
2Princeton NJ$176k131
3Wilmington DE$162k56
4Herndon VA$161k176
5Mc Lean VA$161k71
6McLean VA$158k274
7Reston VA$158k189
8New York NY$150k8,031
9Washington DC$149k1,701
10Jersey City NJ$149k97
11Arlington VA$146k535
12Harrisburg PA$143k65
13Rockville MD$143k99
14Fort Meade MD$142k84
15Alexandria VA$139k158
16United PA$138k65
17Pittsburgh PA$138k186
18Bethesda MD$137k109
19Manassas VA$137k60
20Parsippany NJ$135k72
21Fort Belvoir VA$134k67
22Philadelphia PA$132k349
23Vienna VA$131k93
24Springfield VA$129k56
25Newark NJ$127k114
26Brooklyn NY$126k174
27Tysons VA$125k63
28Baltimore MD$124k188
29Annapolis MD$124k101
30White Plains NY$122k59
31Buffalo NY$119k121
32Syracuse NY$111k69
33Albany NY$110k98
34Richmond VA$103k239
35Norfolk VA$103k71
36Rochester NY$94k66
37Virginia Beach VA$93k58

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 100 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 in the mid-atlantic?
Chantilly leads the Mid-Atlantic for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $192k buys at average US prices.
How many cities are ranked?
37 cities have at least 100 openings with pay posted, so the list has 37 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 in the Mid-Atlantic,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living-in-the-mid-atlantic

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

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