What you need to know is this: an offer of $30,000 will go farther in Atlanta, Georgia than it will in Boston, Massachusetts. It will go much farther in Akron, Ohio, than it does in San Francisco, California. If you make $30,000 in Syracuse, New York, you’ll need less than that to maintain the same standard of living in Wichita, Kansas.

The truth is, geographic location and cost-of-living play a big part in determining how much salary you will be offered-and how much you can afford to accept. Cost of living and salaries fluctuate among metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas. The starting salary for a sales job in a metropolitan area with a high cost-of-living will probably be significantly higher than the salary for the same job in an area with a low cost-of-living. Yet, the buying power of a salary in these locations may be similar.

Find a salary calculator online and you can compare the cost of living in a number of cities. Suppose you are offered $30,000 to take a job in Tampa Florida.

Move to Charlotte, North Carolina and you’ll only need $23,639 to maintain the same standard of living. You’ll need $42,682 in Boston; $56,019 in San Francisco; $28,560 in Wichita, Kansas; or $29, 511 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Supply and demand also play a major role in the amount of starting salary you will be offered. For example, if you’re looking for a job in a field that has a healthy supply of candidates, you’ll probably find stiff competition for jobs; so, your ability to negotiate salary will probably be limited. On the other hand, some fields are so hot right now that graduates in those areas will find they have their choice of employers, many of whom will offer top dollar. But, even within fields, salaries vary, and industry and type of employer also affect salary.

Finally, you’re unique. Your specific qualities and qualifications will play a role in your ability to attract employers and negotiate a salary.

Below are starting salary ranges for selected disciplines. The ranges are provided to give you a rough idea of salary potential for a variety of majors, but keep in mind the factors that affect salary offers—and remember your starting salary may be higher or lower than the figures reported here.