Salary Comparison
Continuous Mining Machine Operators: Durham vs Birmingham
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Durham, NC
$36,565/yr
Birmingham, AL
$31,103/yr
Our recommendation: Birmingham, AL
Birmingham offers $374 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Durham
Birmingham
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$36,565
$31,103
+$5,462
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$2,224
$1,892
+$332
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
94
70
+24 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,520
$1,814
+$706
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,450
$1,043
+$407
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$-296
$78
$374
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
0.88×
1.04×
-0.16×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
2/10 (Tight)
3/10 (Tight)
-1
A vs B
Durham — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.