Utah Salary Data
Salary comparisons across 1 metropolitan area in Utah. State income tax rate: approximately 4.65%.
Metro Areas in Utah
| Metro Area | COL Index | vs US Avg | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 112 | +12% | 4.65% |
Top Paying Occupations in Utah
| Occupation | UT Avg | National Avg | vs National | Top City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $120,000 | $127,433 | $7,433 | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Lawyer | $115,000 | $136,800 | $21,800 | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Financial Analyst | $82,000 | $89,367 | $7,367 | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Registered Nurse | $72,000 | $80,900 | $8,900 | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Electrician | $58,000 | $65,367 | $7,367 | Salt Lake City, UT |
Salary by City — Utah
4Working in Utah: The Bigger Picture
Utah hosts 1 major metropolitan area covered in this dataset: Salt Lake City. The range of cost-of-living indices across these metros — 112 to 112 — shows how much intra-state variance matters. Costs are fairly uniform across metros — relocation within the state won't dramatically shift purchasing power.
Utah's state income tax rate of approximately 4.65% is near the national average. On a $100,000 salary, state tax takes roughly $4,650 per year. Deductions for retirement contributions, state-specific credits, and itemized deductions can reduce the effective rate.
Economic drivers shape which occupations pay well in Utah. The state's highest-paying of our featured occupations is Software Developer at an average of $120,000, concentrated in Salt Lake City, UT. Metros with larger technology, healthcare, or financial-services concentrations tend to pay above national average for those roles; metros with primarily manufacturing, tourism, or agriculture tend to pay closer to national medians but with lower cost of living offsetting the difference.
For relocation planning, run the math both ways: (1) compare your current salary to the UT median for your occupation — if it's lower, you have negotiating leverage; and (2) compare the COL-adjusted figure, which tells you how much purchasing power you'd have. A 10% nominal pay cut in a 20% lower COL city is effectively a 12% raise in real terms. For a specific role, browse all occupations and drill into each one to see side-by-side city differences within Utah.