Salary comparison
Financial Managers: Boston vs Trenton
Boston, MA pays about 13.5% more for financial managers on paper — $209,780 vs $184,800. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Boston comes out ahead by $24,980 a year in real buying power.
Boston, MA
$209,780
$164,560
$292,030
$100.85
100
$209,780/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Trenton, NJ
$184,800
$147,120
$264,620
$88.84
100
$184,800/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $24,980 a year (13.5%) in favor of Boston. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Boston runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Trenton sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Boston is the better deal by $24,980 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Trenton to Boston for this role, the raise needs to beat 13.5% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do financial managers earn more, Boston or Trenton?
Boston pays $209,780 on median — about 13.5% more than Trenton ($184,800). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Boston. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Boston gives you roughly$209,780 of real buying power versus $184,800 in the other city.