Presently, the starting salary is $34,000 per year for legal trainees. After admission to the Florida Bar and having been sworn in as an Assistant State Attorney, the salary is increased to $40,000. Thereafter, and at the discretion of the Florida State Legislature, Assistant State Attorneys are generally given cost of living increase every year. Historically, those increases have equaled 3% to 4% of the yearly salary. Additionally, merit increases generally occur once every year and promotional raises are given when an attorney rises to certain levels in the office.

The cost of living in Miami-Dade County is comparable to similar standards of living in any major American city, with costs lower than Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, for example. According to surveys conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association during the 4th quarter of 2006, Miami's cost of living index was 113.8 (average city is 100.0). This cost of living index reflects the cost of housing, transportation and various consumer items.

It does not, however, include taxes. As a comparison, New York City's index was 214.7. Therefore, you would have to earn $75,465 in New York City to have the same purchasing power that you would have in Miami with a $40,000 salary. Additionally, Miami has one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation. It has no state or local personal income tax. The following equation is used to arrive at the equivalent salary: