Income & Career
U.S. Income & Wage Higher or Lower
Compare median incomes and occupational salaries across American metropolitan areas using official Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Raleigh
Software Engineer Median Annual Salary
Seattle
Software Engineer Median Annual Salary
How to play
Compare occupational wages and median incomes across American metropolitan areas. Using official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, guess which city pays higher median annual compensation for key professions.
Nominal earnings vs real purchasing power
A registered nurse earning $151,000 in San Francisco may take home significantly less discretionary income than a nurse earning $82,000 in Tampa once California state income taxes, rent, and local groceries are factored in.
This quiz highlights the nominal wage differences that attract workers to major hubs and illustrates the regional wage premiums paid for licensed trades, healthcare, and technology.
Regional occupational demand and licensed trade premiums
Compensation for essential professions — including registered nurses, police officers, commercial electricians, and high school teachers — varies substantially based on regional tax bases and municipal funding structures.
In high-cost, high-tax states, public sector and unionized healthcare wages are negotiated upward to attract workers amidst elevated housing costs. However, in states with rapid population inflows, acute labor shortages can create temporary wage spikes that outpace national averages.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data standards
Salary figures across our comparison engine are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, covering more than 800 detailed occupations across all 50 states and metropolitan statistical areas.
The OEWS program surveys approximately 1.1 million business establishments over a rolling three-year cycle, ensuring that median annual earnings accurately reflect representative workplace compensation rather than self-reported internet salary surveys.
U.S. Metropolitan Occupational Median Annual Wages (BLS OEWS)
Median annual compensation across major metropolitan areas from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 50% of surveyed professionals earn above this benchmark.
| Metropolitan Area | Registered Nurse | Software Developer | Licensed Electrician | High School Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco / San Jose, CA | $151,640 | $182,400 | $112,400 | $94,200 |
| New York City, NY | $104,800 | $148,200 | $93,200 | $92,400 |
| Boston, MA | $108,200 | $142,600 | $88,400 | $91,200 |
| Seattle, WA | $103,400 | $148,900 | $89,500 | $88,600 |
| Austin, TX | $86,400 | $126,800 | $64,200 | $62,400 |
| Chicago, IL | $89,200 | $118,400 | $84,600 | $79,500 |
| Miami, FL | $82,410 | $104,200 | $58,200 | $59,800 |
| Atlanta, GA | $84,200 | $116,500 | $59,400 | $65,800 |
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