The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Mechanical Engineers: Kearney vs Columbia

Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.

Kearney, NE

$93,675/yr

Take-home$5,699/mo
Disposable$3,653/mo
Lifestyle9/10 · Comfortable

Columbia, MD

$117,945/yr

Take-home$7,175/mo
Disposable$3,842/mo
Lifestyle8/10 · Comfortable

Full Breakdown

Kearney

Columbia

Diff (A−B)

Annual Gross Salary

$93,675

$117,945

$24,270

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$5,699

$7,175

$1,476

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

79

124

-45 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,046

$3,333

$1,287

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,177

$2,050

$873

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$3,653

$3,842

$189

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better

2.79×

2.15×

+0.64×

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

9/10 (Comfortable)

8/10 (Comfortable)

+1

A vs B

Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.