Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Southeast
Key facts
- #1 Chantilly, VA: $192k
- #2 Huntsville, AL: $164k
- #3 Herndon, VA: $161k
- 33 cities ranked in the Southeast
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: $131k across the typical city in our data.
- 1Chantilly VA$192k
- 2Huntsville AL$164k
- 3Herndon VA$161k
- 4Mc Lean VA$161k
- 5McLean VA$158k
- 6Reston VA$158k
- 7Arlington VA$146k
- 8Frankfort KY$145k
- 9Nashville TN$145k
- 10Birmingham AL$139k
What stands out
- The top ten is tightly packed: Chantilly leads on $192k, and #10 Birmingham is at $139k.
- 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.
- Arlington is the largest market in the top ten, with 535 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
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.
- 2
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 10
Birmingham AL
$139k
- Median posted pay
- $124k
- State prices vs US average
- −11%
- Openings with pay posted
- 54
Hiring most here: Genuine Parts Company, Uab Medicine Enterprise, Brasfield & Gorrie
Based on 54 openings with pay posted.
- 11
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.
- 12
Atlanta GA
$138k
- Median posted pay
- $138k
- Local prices vs US average
- +0%
- Openings with pay posted
- 931
Hiring most here: Emory University, Oxford College of Emory University, Capgemini Invent
Based on 931 openings with pay posted.
- 13
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.
- 14
Alpharetta GA
$136k
- Median posted pay
- $131k
- State prices vs US average
- −4%
- Openings with pay posted
- 119
Hiring most here: Morgan Stanley, Fiserv, Landis+Gyr
Based on 119 openings with pay posted.
- 15
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.
- 16
Raleigh NC
$133k
- Median posted pay
- $125k
- State prices vs US average
- −6%
- Openings with pay posted
- 246
Hiring most here: First Citizens Bank, Dewberry, MaintainX
Based on 246 openings with pay posted.
- 17
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.
- 18
Charlotte NC
$131k
- Median posted pay
- $128k
- Local prices vs US average
- −3%
- Openings with pay posted
- 491
Hiring most here: Truist Financial, Scout Motors, SMBC Americas
Based on 491 openings with pay posted.
- 19
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.
- 20
Durham NC
$129k
- Median posted pay
- $122k
- State prices vs US average
- −6%
- Openings with pay posted
- 58
Hiring most here: Duke University, Duke Health, GSK
Based on 58 openings with pay posted.
- 21
Louisville KY
$126k
- Median posted pay
- $113k
- State prices vs US average
- −10%
- Openings with pay posted
- 566
Hiring most here: Deloitte, BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare
Based on 566 openings with pay posted.
- 22
Tysons VA
$125k
- Median posted pay
- $127k
- State prices vs US average
- +1%
- Openings with pay posted
- 63
Hiring most here: M.C. Dean, Alarm.com Holdings, LMI
Based on 63 openings with pay posted.
- 23
Tallahassee FL
$121k
- Median posted pay
- $125k
- State prices vs US average
- +3%
- Openings with pay posted
- 100
Hiring most here: State of Florida, L3HARRIS Technologies, NextEra Energy
Based on 100 openings with pay posted.
- 24
Miami FL
$120k
- Median posted pay
- $138k
- Local prices vs US average
- +14%
- Openings with pay posted
- 292
Hiring most here: University Of Miami, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises / Holland America Line
Based on 292 openings with pay posted.
- 25
Greensboro NC
$111k
- Median posted pay
- $105k
- State prices vs US average
- −6%
- Openings with pay posted
- 52
Hiring most here: Cone Health, Kaiser Permanente, Guilford County Schools
Based on 52 openings with pay posted.
Full ranking
All 33 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | City | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chantilly VA | $192k | 54 |
| 2 | Huntsville AL | $164k | 140 |
| 3 | Herndon VA | $161k | 176 |
| 4 | Mc Lean VA | $161k | 71 |
| 5 | McLean VA | $158k | 274 |
| 6 | Reston VA | $158k | 189 |
| 7 | Arlington VA | $146k | 535 |
| 8 | Frankfort KY | $145k | 107 |
| 9 | Nashville TN | $145k | 199 |
| 10 | Birmingham AL | $139k | 54 |
| 11 | Alexandria VA | $139k | 158 |
| 12 | Atlanta GA | $138k | 931 |
| 13 | Manassas VA | $137k | 60 |
| 14 | Alpharetta GA | $136k | 119 |
| 15 | Fort Belvoir VA | $134k | 67 |
| 16 | Raleigh NC | $133k | 246 |
| 17 | Vienna VA | $131k | 93 |
| 18 | Charlotte NC | $131k | 491 |
| 19 | Springfield VA | $129k | 56 |
| 20 | Durham NC | $129k | 58 |
| 21 | Louisville KY | $126k | 566 |
| 22 | Tysons VA | $125k | 63 |
| 23 | Tallahassee FL | $121k | 100 |
| 24 | Miami FL | $120k | 292 |
| 25 | Greensboro NC | $111k | 52 |
| 26 | Tampa FL | $108k | 274 |
| 27 | Orlando FL | $104k | 120 |
| 28 | Richmond VA | $103k | 239 |
| 29 | Norfolk VA | $103k | 71 |
| 30 | Fort Lauderdale FL | $102k | 84 |
| 31 | Jacksonville FL | $102k | 95 |
| 32 | Virginia Beach VA | $93k | 58 |
| 33 | Boca Raton FL | $92k | 57 |
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 southeast?
- Chantilly leads the Southeast for pay after the cost of living: its median posted salary buys what $192k buys at average US prices.
- How many cities are ranked?
- 33 cities have at least 100 openings with pay posted, so the list has 33 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
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Southeast
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Southeast
- Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Southeast
- Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast
- Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Southeast
- Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Southeast
- Best cities for pay after cost of living
- Best cities for pay after cost of living in California
- Best cities for pay after cost of living in Texas
- Best cities for pay after cost of living in Virginia
- Best cities for pay after cost of living in Massachusetts
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living-in-the-southeast
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-pay-vs-cost-of-living-in-the-southeast">Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Southeast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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