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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Pittsburgh ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $81,726/year, better purchasing power than San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont's higher nominal pay of $83,310. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$83,310
#2 Pittsburgh$77,370
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$75,550

Best purchasing power

#1 Pittsburgh$81,726
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$72,061
#3 Boston-Cambridge-Newton$69,160

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed miscellaneous construction and related workerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Pittsburgh
20% rent burden
$77,370
$81,726
#2
$83,310
$72,061
#3
$74,880
$69,160
#4
$75,550
$67,983
#5
Columbus
27% rent burden
$62,430
$65,392
#6
$60,200
$58,703
#7
$58,670
$58,495
#8
$65,610
$58,289
#9
Cincinnati
30% rent burden
$54,630
$57,282
#10
$60,910
$57,101
#11
Cleveland
29% rent burden
$52,760
$56,175
#12
Athens-Clarke County
31% rent burden
$51,740
$55,432
#13
Albuquerque
33% rent burden
$52,630
$55,081
#14
$60,880
$53,606
#15
Baton Rouge
31% rent burden
$46,840
$51,597
#16
$49,070
$51,275
#17
$49,670
$50,715
#18
Kansas City
35% rent burden
$46,220
$49,946
#19
$48,540
$49,861
#20
$53,990
$49,587
#21
$48,380
$49,332
#22
$48,620
$49,295
#23
Raleigh-Cary
44% rent burden
$48,260
$49,165
#24
Richmond
42% rent burden
$47,650
$48,692
#25
$51,110
$48,482

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $83,310 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $69,425 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 miscellaneous construction and related workers 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 Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workerss?

Pittsburgh has one of the lowest rent burdens for Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,299/month, with a median salary of $77,370.

Where do Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays the highest nominal median salary at $83,310/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkerssView →How to become a miscellaneous construction and related workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →