Salary Comparison
Physicists: Paterson vs Sunnyvale
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Paterson, NJ
$181,176/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
$133,070/yr
Our recommendation: Paterson, NJ
Paterson offers $4,157 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Paterson
Sunnyvale
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$181,176
$133,070
+$48,106
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$11,022
$8,095
+$2,927
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
106
152
-46 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,853
$4,083
$1,230
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,650
$2,650
$1,000
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$8,169
$4,012
+$4,157
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
3.86×
1.98×
+1.88×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
10/10 (Comfortable)
7/10 (Moderate)
+3
A vs B
Paterson — Full Details
Sunnyvale — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.