COLA vs Resident Salary
Interactive analysis of PGY-1 Wage Index (WI) across top 250 US cities by population
Wage Index (WI) Heatmap
The Wage Index (WI) provides a standardized measure of financial viability. It is calculated by dividing the estimated post-tax income by the local cost of living, then multiplying by 100. A score above 100 indicates a financial surplus, while a score below 100 suggests a potential deficit.
Wage Index (WI)
Program Features
Residency Program Data
| City, State | WI | PGY-1 Comp | Est. COL | Union | Representative Programs | Subsidy Details |
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Data Sourcing and Methodology
The financial data presented in this analysis is a consolidated effort from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and relevance for the 2025-2026 academic year. PGY-1 compensation figures, including base salaries and quantifiable subsidies (e.g., housing stipends, relocation bonuses), were gathered from official residency program websites, ACGME program listings, and publicly available resident contracts. Cost of Living (COL) estimates for a single person are derived from a composite of publicly available economic data, aggregated to reflect typical expenses in each metropolitan area. All post-tax income calculations are based on projected 2025 federal, FICA, state, and local tax rates.