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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendantss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendantss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Urban Honolulu ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $46,882/year, better purchasing power than Urban Honolulu's higher nominal pay of $52,020. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Urban Honolulu$52,020
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$45,370
#3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$44,210

Best purchasing power

#1 Urban Honolulu$46,882
#2 Sandusky$46,494
#3 Kansas City$41,744

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed automotive and watercraft service attendantss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Urban Honolulu
61% rent burden
$52,020
$46,882
#2
Sandusky
32% rent burden
$41,510
$46,494
#3
Kansas City
42% rent burden
$38,630
$41,744
#4
$45,370
$41,089
#5
Fargo
36% rent burden
$36,680
$40,365
#6
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
42% rent burden
$38,540
$40,213
#7
Syracuse
43% rent burden
$38,450
$40,161
#8
Appleton
40% rent burden
$36,850
$39,872
#9
Rapid City
45% rent burden
$35,300
$39,592
#10
Billings
46% rent burden
$36,740
$39,282
#11
Sioux Falls
39% rent burden
$35,600
$39,281
#12
Oklahoma City
42% rent burden
$35,460
$39,221
#13
Madison
37% rent burden
$38,060
$39,120
#14
Peoria
35% rent burden
$35,610
$39,033
#15
Omaha
46% rent burden
$35,860
$39,016
#16
$42,730
$38,450
#17
$38,270
$38,435
#18
Anchorage
41% rent burden
$40,470
$38,389
#19
Toledo
37% rent burden
$35,090
$38,371
#20
Rochester
51% rent burden
$37,120
$38,256
#21
$44,210
$38,241
#22
Green Bay
39% rent burden
$35,420
$38,049
#23
Milwaukee-Waukesha
44% rent burden
$36,880
$38,044
#24
Cleveland
43% rent burden
$35,700
$38,011
#25
$35,200
$37,976

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendantss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $52,020 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $43,350 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A automotive and watercraft service attendants in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendantss?

Sandusky has one of the lowest rent burdens for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendantss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,106/month, with a median salary of $41,510.

Where do Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendantss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Urban Honolulu pays the highest nominal median salary at $52,020/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantssView →How to become a automotive and watercraft service attendantsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →