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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Parking Attendants by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Parking Attendants the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Sioux Falls ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $42,502/year, better purchasing power than San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's higher nominal pay of $45,030. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$45,030
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$44,480
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$43,790

Best purchasing power

#1 Sioux Falls$42,502
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$40,781
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$39,404

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed parking attendants excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Sioux Falls
36% rent burden
$38,520
$42,502
#2
$45,030
$40,781
#3
$43,790
$39,404
#4
Syracuse
44% rent burden
$37,710
$39,388
#5
Fargo
38% rent burden
$35,470
$39,034
#6
$44,480
$38,474
#7
Barnstable Town
79% rent burden
$37,010
$37,631
#8
$39,480
$37,450
#9
Spokane-Spokane Valley
36% rent burden
$37,340
$37,210
#10
Madison
39% rent burden
$36,200
$37,208
#11
Lansing-East Lansing
44% rent burden
$34,830
$36,667
#12
$37,810
$36,500
#13
Springfield
60% rent burden
$34,870
$36,300
#14
Omaha
49% rent burden
$33,280
$36,209
#15
Asheville
54% rent burden
$34,670
$35,924
#16
Rochester
54% rent burden
$34,800
$35,865
#17
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
47% rent burden
$34,010
$35,486
#18
$33,880
$35,458
#19
Worcester
68% rent burden
$36,240
$35,349
#20
Lexington-Fayette
47% rent burden
$32,750
$35,257
#21
Kahului-Wailuku
82% rent burden
$38,480
$35,177
#22
Akron
46% rent burden
$32,770
$35,097
#23
$31,200
$35,025
#24
Boise City
58% rent burden
$34,390
$34,953
#25
$35,020
$34,915

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 Parking Attendants?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $45,030 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $37,525 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 parking 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 Parking Attendants?

Sioux Falls has one of the lowest rent burdens for Parking Attendants in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,156/month, with a median salary of $38,520.

Where do Parking Attendants get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays the highest nominal median salary at $45,030/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Parking AttendantsView →How to become a parking attendantsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →