The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Installation: Frederick vs Birmingham

Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.

Frederick, MD

$57,380/yr

Take-home$3,491/mo
Disposable$770/mo
Lifestyle4/10 · Tight

Birmingham, AL

$42,465/yr

Take-home$2,583/mo
Disposable$769/mo
Lifestyle5/10 · Tight

Full Breakdown

Frederick

Birmingham

Diff (A−B)

Annual Gross Salary

$57,380

$42,465

+$14,915

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$3,491

$2,583

+$908

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

105

70

+35 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,721

$1,814

+$907

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,565

$1,043

+$522

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$770

$769

+$1

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better

1.28×

1.42×

-0.14×

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

4/10 (Tight)

5/10 (Tight)

-1

A vs B

Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.