By Ziya Y. · 23 Years Banking · BLS OEWS + Zillow ZHVI · May 2026
The FRC Corporate Affordability Index (CAI) measures what percentage of local housing is affordable on the median employee salary. We analyze 12 major US employers — from LAUSD teachers to Google engineers.
CAI Formula: (homes where PITI ≤ 36% of median monthly salary) / total local inventory × 100
PITI calculation: P&I at 6.7% rate, 30-year fixed, 20% down + local property tax rate + homeowners insurance estimate
Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Home prices: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), May 2026
Last updated: May 28, 2026 | Next update: Q3 2026
| Employer | City | Median Salary | CAI Score (↑ = better) | % Homes Affordable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFUSD Teachers | San Francisco, CA | $84,000 | 6/100 | 6% |
| LAUSD Teachers | Los Angeles, CA | $68,000 | 8/100 | 8% |
| NYPD Officers | New York, NY | $85,000 | 10/100 | 10% |
| NYC Hospital Nurses | New York, NY | $95,000 | 12/100 | 12% |
| SF Firefighters | San Francisco, CA | $115,000 | 14/100 | 14% |
| Meta Engineers | Menlo Park, CA | $185,000 | 14/100 | 14% |
| Apple Engineers | Cupertino, CA | $168,000 | 16/100 | 16% |
| Google Engineers | Mountain View, CA | $175,000 | 18/100 | 18% |
| Microsoft Engineers | Redmond, WA | $158,000 | 28/100 | 28% |
| Amazon Engineers | Seattle, WA | $142,000 | 32/100 | 32% |
| Tesla Workers | Austin, TX | $85,000 | 38/100 | 38% |
| Mayo Clinic Staff | Rochester, MN | $92,000 | 72/100 | 72% |
Teachers and nurses face the worst crisis. SFUSD teachers (CAI 6) and LAUSD teachers (CAI 8) can afford fewer than 10% of homes near their schools.
Even $175K tech salaries aren't enough. Google engineers in Mountain View can only afford 18% of local homes. Apple (16%) and Meta (14%) engineers face similar barriers.
The one bright spot: Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN. Healthcare workers earning $92K can afford 72% of local homes — what a functional housing market looks like.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, Zillow Home Value Index May 2026, FRC Underwriting Model. Educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Contact: [email protected]