Salary vs. cost of living
What your paycheck is really worth in your county
Pick a job and a county. See take-home pay after federal, Social Security & Medicare, and state taxes, then what is left after rent, food and energy.
74 jobs · 350 counties · 48 states + D.C. · Government data
- Median annual salary
- $135,560
- Federal income tax
- −$21,601
- Social Security & Medicare
- −$10,370
- State income tax
- −$8,485
- Take-home pay
- $95,103
- Federal income tax15.9%
- Social Security & Medicare7.7%
- State income tax6.3%
- Rent (1 bedroom)21.3%
- Food2.5%
- Home energy3.0%
- Gasoline1.5%
- Left over41.8%
Start with a popular comparison
The occupations with the most jobs in the country, each shown in a large county. Open one to see the full payslip, rent, and budget.
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesLos Angeles County, CAMedian salary$34,320Take-home pay$29,320Shortfall after rent, food & energy: $9,115/yr
- General and Operations ManagersCook County, ILMedian salary$109,390Take-home pay$80,233Left after rent, food & energy: $51,856/yr
- Retail SalespersonsHarris County, TXMedian salary$31,340Take-home pay$27,310Left after rent, food & energy: $5,111/yr
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersMaricopa County, AZMedian salary$34,540Take-home pay$29,393Left after rent, food & energy: $3,895/yr
- Registered NursesSan Diego County, CAMedian salary$139,520Take-home pay$97,441Left after rent, food & energy: $59,810/yr
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandOrange County, CAMedian salary$42,390Take-home pay$35,481Shortfall after rent, food & energy: $5,450/yr
- CashiersMiami-Dade County, FLMedian salary$30,250Take-home pay$26,434Shortfall after rent, food & energy: $6,379/yr
- Stockers and Order FillersKings County, NYMedian salary$38,600Take-home pay$31,626Shortfall after rent, food & energy: $9,260/yr
How the numbers are built
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Start from the real wage
We use the median annual wage the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports for the job in the county's metro or rural area (May 2025). Hourly-only jobs are annualized at 2,080 hours.
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Take out the three taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and state income tax are calculated separately for a single filer under tax year 2025 rules. States with no wage tax show $0.
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Subtract what living costs
One-bedroom Fair Market Rent from HUD, a USDA Thrifty Food Plan adult budget, and state energy and gasoline prices from the EIA. What remains is your real margin.
Browse the largest counties
Methodology & sources
Every figure comes from U.S. government data. We combine them with transparent assumptions: a single filer, wage income only, the standard deduction, and no local income taxes. Salaries are medians, so half of workers earn more.