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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Barnstable Town ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $76,685/year, better purchasing power than Urban Honolulu's higher nominal pay of $78,040. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Urban Honolulu$78,040
#2 Barnstable Town$75,420
#3 Boston-Cambridge-Newton$72,790

Best purchasing power

#1 Barnstable Town$76,685
#2 Urban Honolulu$70,332
#3 Boston-Cambridge-Newton$67,230

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed motorboat mechanics and service technicians excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Barnstable Town
39% rent burden
$75,420
$76,685
#2
Urban Honolulu
41% rent burden
$78,040
$70,332
#3
$72,790
$67,230
#4
$70,600
$64,842
#5
Sandusky
23% rent burden
$56,670
$63,474
#6
$71,410
$61,768
#7
$62,470
$60,798
#8
$61,030
$60,763
#9
$61,640
$60,514
#10
Wilmington
29% rent burden
$58,240
$60,402
#11
$63,170
$60,265
#12
$63,900
$59,798
#13
$62,210
$59,537
#14
Providence-Warwick
35% rent burden
$59,170
$58,141
#15
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
37% rent burden
$59,800
$57,878
#16
Port St. Lucie
36% rent burden
$57,900
$57,767
#17
$64,140
$57,716
#18
$56,790
$57,579
#19
Jacksonville
35% rent burden
$57,150
$57,449
#20
$58,800
$57,338
#21
$58,650
$57,264
#22
$57,250
$57,250
#23
$62,450
$55,814
#24
$62,070
$55,144
#25
$54,470
$53,989

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 Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $78,040 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $65,033 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 motorboat mechanics and service technicians 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 Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians?

Sandusky has one of the lowest rent burdens for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,106/month, with a median salary of $56,670.

Where do Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians get paid the most in nominal terms?

Urban Honolulu pays the highest nominal median salary at $78,040/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansView →How to become a motorboat mechanics and service techniciansGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →