Salary comparison
Registered Nurses: Los Angeles vs Salem
Los Angeles, CA pays about 2.9% more for registered nurses on paper — $135,560 vs $131,750. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Los Angeles comes out ahead by $3,810 a year in real buying power.
Los Angeles, CA
$135,560
$112,070
$167,800
$65.18
100
$135,560/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Salem, OR
$131,750
$109,870
$132,930
$63.34
100
$131,750/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,810 a year (2.9%) in favor of Los Angeles. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Los Angeles runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Salem sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Los Angeles is the better deal by $3,810 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Salem to Los Angeles for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do registered nurses earn more, Los Angeles or Salem?
Los Angeles pays $135,560 on median — about 2.9% more than Salem ($131,750). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Los Angeles. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Los Angeles gives you roughly$135,560 of real buying power versus $131,750 in the other city.