Salary Comparison
Materials Engineers: Sterling Heights vs Boulder
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Sterling Heights, MI
$100,975/yr
Boulder, CO
$128,937/yr
Full Breakdown
Sterling Heights
Boulder
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$100,975
$128,937
$27,962
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$6,143
$7,844
$1,701
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
82
127
-45 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,202
$3,403
$1,201
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,180
$2,150
$970
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$3,941
$4,441
$500
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
2.79×
2.31×
+0.48×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
9/10 (Comfortable)
8/10 (Comfortable)
+1
A vs B
Sterling Heights — Full Details
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.