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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipments by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipments the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Grand Island ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $56,497/year, better purchasing power than Grand Island's higher nominal pay of $48,960. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Grand Island$48,960
#2 St. Joseph$48,270
#3 Decatur$47,450

Best purchasing power

#1 Grand Island$56,497
#2 St. Joseph$55,881
#3 Decatur$53,664

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed cleaners of vehicles and equipments excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Grand Island
26% rent burden
$48,960
$56,497
#2
St. Joseph
27% rent burden
$48,270
$55,881
#3
Decatur
27% rent burden
$47,450
$53,664
#4
Elkhart-Goshen
30% rent burden
$46,810
$51,821
#5
Longview-Kelso
38% rent burden
$45,700
$46,848
#6
Enid
32% rent burden
$38,630
$45,841
#7
Warner Robins
32% rent burden
$42,250
$45,047
#8
Jonesboro
34% rent burden
$36,920
$42,990
#9
Lima
35% rent burden
$38,090
$42,478
#10
Sioux City
38% rent burden
$36,100
$41,758
#11
Sandusky
36% rent burden
$37,260
$41,734
#12
Wichita
36% rent burden
$37,110
$41,720
#13
Grand Forks
36% rent burden
$35,920
$41,449
#14
Staunton-Stuarts Draft
40% rent burden
$37,760
$41,435
#15
St. Cloud
40% rent burden
$36,120
$41,219
#16
Gettysburg
42% rent burden
$39,140
$41,036
#17
Topeka
35% rent burden
$36,190
$40,745
#18
Minot
34% rent burden
$35,450
$40,733
#19
Fargo
36% rent burden
$36,810
$40,508
#20
Tuscaloosa
40% rent burden
$35,460
$40,424
#21
Bismarck
39% rent burden
$36,210
$39,782
#22
Bloomington
38% rent burden
$37,740
$39,693
#23
Omaha
45% rent burden
$36,380
$39,582
#24
Kansas City
45% rent burden
$36,600
$39,550
#25
Twin Falls
39% rent burden
$36,400
$39,518

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 Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipments?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $48,960 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $40,800 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 cleaners of vehicles and equipment 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 Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipments?

Grand Island has one of the lowest rent burdens for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipments in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,049/month, with a median salary of $48,960.

Where do Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipments get paid the most in nominal terms?

Grand Island pays the highest nominal median salary at $48,960/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentsView →How to become a cleaners of vehicles and equipmentGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →