Salary Comparison
Material Moving Workers: Boulder vs Pasadena
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Boulder, CO
$53,955/yr
Pasadena, CA
$36,830/yr
Our recommendation: Boulder, CO
Boulder offers $1,338 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Boulder
Pasadena
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$53,955
$36,830
+$17,125
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,282
$2,241
+$1,041
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
127
138
-11 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,403
$3,700
$297
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,150
$2,350
$200
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$-121
$-1,459
+$1,338
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
0.96×
0.61×
+0.35×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
3/10 (Tight)
1/10 (Tight)
+2
A vs B
Boulder — 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.