Salary Leaderboard · 2026
$252,000 Salary: Best & Worst US Cities
Ranked by salary stretch ratio — monthly take-home divided by monthly living costs
A+
Best City Grade
Mitchell
$14k/mo
Avg Take-Home
across all cities
320
A-Grade Cities
stretch ratio ≥ 2.0×
Mitchell
South Dakota
A+8.62×
stretch ratio
Aberdeen
South Dakota
A+8.07×
stretch ratio
Watertown
South Dakota
A+8.07×
stretch ratio
Full Salary Leaderboard
Top 20 cities — ranked by salary stretch ratio
| # | City | Take-Home/mo | Rent/mo | Savings/mo | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MitchellSouth Dakotabudget | $15,338 | $900 | $13,558 | A+ |
| 2 | AberdeenSouth Dakotabudget | $15,338 | $1,000 | $13,438 | A+ |
| 3 | WatertownSouth Dakotabudget | $15,338 | $1,000 | $13,438 | A+ |
| 4 | Fort SmithArkansasbudget | $14,365 | $950 | $12,545 | A+ |
| 5 | MeridianMississippibudget | $14,351 | $950 | $12,521 | A+ |
| 6 | WeirtonWest Virginiabudget | $14,067 | $950 | $12,237 | A+ |
| 7 | WaterlooIowabudget | $14,540 | $1,000 | $12,640 | A+ |
| 8 | JonesboroArkansasbudget | $14,365 | $1,000 | $12,475 | A+ |
| 9 | Grand ForksNorth Dakotabudget | $15,338 | $1,100 | $13,318 | A+ |
| 10 | MinotNorth Dakotabudget | $15,338 | $1,100 | $13,318 | A+ |
| 11 | BrookingsSouth Dakotabudget | $15,338 | $1,100 | $13,318 | A+ |
| 12 | MemphisTennesseebudget | $15,338 | $1,100 | $13,318 | A+ |
| 13 | LawtonOklahomabudget | $14,356 | $1,000 | $12,456 | A+ |
| 14 | MontgomeryAlabamabudget | $14,302 | $1,000 | $12,402 | A+ |
| 15 | TopekaKansasbudget | $14,179 | $1,000 | $12,279 | A+ |
| 16 | Grand IslandNebraskabudget | $14,167 | $1,000 | $12,267 | A+ |
| 17 | ShreveportLouisianabudget | $14,494 | $1,050 | $12,544 | A+ |
| 18 | Sioux CityIowabudget | $14,540 | $1,050 | $12,580 | A+ |
| 19 | ConwayArkansasbudget | $14,365 | $1,050 | $12,420 | A+ |
| 20 | ParkersburgWest Virginiabudget | $14,067 | $1,000 | $12,162 | A+ |
Hardest Cities for a $252,000 Salary
Salary Grade Guide
Grade is based on how many times your monthly take-home covers your estimated monthly living costs (rent + other expenses).
A+
2.5× and above
Excellent — very high savings
A
2.0× – 2.5×
Great — comfortable surplus
B
1.5× – 2.0×
Good — moderate savings
C
1.0× – 1.5×
Tight — limited savings
D
0.5× – 1.0×
Hard — little left over
F
Below 0.5×
Deficit — costs exceed pay
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city makes a $252,000 salary go the furthest in 2026?
Mitchell, South Dakota tops the leaderboard for a $252,000 salary. With a monthly take-home of $15,338, a rent of $900/month, and an effective tax rate of 26.96%, your salary stretch ratio is 8.62x — meaning your take-home is 8.62 times your monthly living costs.
How is the salary leaderboard score calculated?
Each city is scored by its "salary stretch ratio": monthly take-home pay divided by total monthly living costs (rent + estimated other expenses). A ratio above 2.0 means you earn at least twice your monthly costs — a very comfortable position. Cities with no state income tax and lower rents consistently score highest.
What does the salary grade mean?
The grade summarizes how well a $252,000 salary stretches in a given city. A+ (ratio ≥ 2.5×) means your take-home is more than 2.5× your costs — excellent savings potential. A (2.0–2.5×), B (1.5–2.0×), C (1.0–1.5×), D (0.5–1.0×), and F (below 0.5×) mean tighter budgets. Only 320 cities earned an A or A+ grade for a $252,000 salary.
What is the average monthly take-home for a $252,000 salary across all US cities?
The average monthly take-home pay for a $252,000 salary across all tracked US cities is $14,449/month. Actual take-home varies by state income tax, with no-tax states like Texas and Florida offering the highest net pay, while California, New York, and Oregon take the largest portion.