Salary Leaderboard · 2026
$38,000 Salary: Best & Worst US Cities
Ranked by salary stretch ratio — monthly take-home divided by monthly living costs
B
Best City Grade
Mitchell
$3k/mo
Avg Take-Home
across all cities
0
A-Grade Cities
stretch ratio ≥ 2.0×
Mitchell
South Dakota
B1.52×
stretch ratio
Aberdeen
South Dakota
C1.43×
stretch ratio
Watertown
South Dakota
C1.43×
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 | $2,714 | $900 | $934 | B |
| 2 | AberdeenSouth Dakotabudget | $2,714 | $1,000 | $814 | C |
| 3 | WatertownSouth Dakotabudget | $2,714 | $1,000 | $814 | C |
| 4 | Fort SmithArkansasbudget | $2,580 | $950 | $760 | C |
| 5 | WeirtonWest Virginiabudget | $2,591 | $950 | $761 | C |
| 6 | MeridianMississippibudget | $2,565 | $950 | $735 | C |
| 7 | WaterlooIowabudget | $2,594 | $1,000 | $694 | C |
| 8 | JonesboroArkansasbudget | $2,580 | $1,000 | $690 | C |
| 9 | Grand IslandNebraskabudget | $2,585 | $1,000 | $685 | C |
| 10 | ParkersburgWest Virginiabudget | $2,591 | $1,000 | $686 | C |
| 11 | LawtonOklahomabudget | $2,580 | $1,000 | $680 | C |
| 12 | TopekaKansasbudget | $2,572 | $1,000 | $672 | C |
| 13 | MontgomeryAlabamabudget | $2,570 | $1,000 | $670 | C |
| 14 | ShreveportLouisianabudget | $2,621 | $1,050 | $671 | C |
| 15 | Grand ForksNorth Dakotabudget | $2,714 | $1,100 | $694 | C |
| 16 | MinotNorth Dakotabudget | $2,714 | $1,100 | $694 | C |
| 17 | BrookingsSouth Dakotabudget | $2,714 | $1,100 | $694 | C |
| 18 | MemphisTennesseebudget | $2,714 | $1,100 | $694 | C |
| 19 | ButteMontanabudget | $2,536 | $1,000 | $636 | C |
| 20 | ToledoOhiobudget | $2,687 | $1,100 | $667 | C |
Hardest Cities for a $38,000 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 $38,000 salary go the furthest in 2026?
Mitchell, South Dakota tops the leaderboard for a $38,000 salary. With a monthly take-home of $2,714, a rent of $900/month, and an effective tax rate of 14.29%, your salary stretch ratio is 1.52x — meaning your take-home is 1.52 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 $38,000 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 0 cities earned an A or A+ grade for a $38,000 salary.
What is the average monthly take-home for a $38,000 salary across all US cities?
The average monthly take-home pay for a $38,000 salary across all tracked US cities is $2,607/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.