Salary Leaderboard · 2026
$352,000 Salary: Best & Worst US Cities
Ranked by salary stretch ratio — monthly take-home divided by monthly living costs
A+
Best City Grade
Mitchell
$19k/mo
Avg Take-Home
across all cities
320
A-Grade Cities
stretch ratio ≥ 2.0×
Mitchell
South Dakota
A+11.57×
stretch ratio
Aberdeen
South Dakota
A+10.84×
stretch ratio
Watertown
South Dakota
A+10.84×
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 | $20,593 | $900 | $18,813 | A+ |
| 2 | AberdeenSouth Dakotabudget | $20,593 | $1,000 | $18,693 | A+ |
| 3 | WatertownSouth Dakotabudget | $20,593 | $1,000 | $18,693 | A+ |
| 4 | Fort SmithArkansasbudget | $19,228 | $950 | $17,408 | A+ |
| 5 | MeridianMississippibudget | $19,214 | $950 | $17,384 | A+ |
| 6 | WeirtonWest Virginiabudget | $18,780 | $950 | $16,950 | A+ |
| 7 | WaterlooIowabudget | $19,478 | $1,000 | $17,578 | A+ |
| 8 | Grand ForksNorth Dakotabudget | $20,593 | $1,100 | $18,573 | A+ |
| 9 | MinotNorth Dakotabudget | $20,593 | $1,100 | $18,573 | A+ |
| 10 | BrookingsSouth Dakotabudget | $20,593 | $1,100 | $18,573 | A+ |
| 11 | MemphisTennesseebudget | $20,593 | $1,100 | $18,573 | A+ |
| 12 | JonesboroArkansasbudget | $19,228 | $1,000 | $17,338 | A+ |
| 13 | LawtonOklahomabudget | $19,215 | $1,000 | $17,315 | A+ |
| 14 | MontgomeryAlabamabudget | $19,140 | $1,000 | $17,240 | A+ |
| 15 | TopekaKansasbudget | $18,959 | $1,000 | $17,059 | A+ |
| 16 | Grand IslandNebraskabudget | $18,935 | $1,000 | $17,035 | A+ |
| 17 | ShreveportLouisianabudget | $19,395 | $1,050 | $17,445 | A+ |
| 18 | Sioux CityIowabudget | $19,478 | $1,050 | $17,518 | A+ |
| 19 | ConwayArkansasbudget | $19,228 | $1,050 | $17,283 | A+ |
| 20 | ParkersburgWest Virginiabudget | $18,780 | $1,000 | $16,875 | A+ |
Hardest Cities for a $352,000 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 $352,000 salary go the furthest in 2026?
Mitchell, South Dakota tops the leaderboard for a $352,000 salary. With a monthly take-home of $20,593, a rent of $900/month, and an effective tax rate of 29.8%, your salary stretch ratio is 11.57x — meaning your take-home is 11.57 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 $352,000 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 $352,000 salary.
What is the average monthly take-home for a $352,000 salary across all US cities?
The average monthly take-home pay for a $352,000 salary across all tracked US cities is $19,318/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.