Salary Comparison
Pipelayers: Charlottesville vs Federal Way
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Charlottesville, VA
$56,544/yr
Federal Way, WA
$82,660/yr
Our recommendation: Federal Way, WA
Federal Way offers $1,356 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Charlottesville
Federal Way
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$56,544
$82,660
$26,116
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,440
$5,029
$1,589
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
96
101
-5 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,489
$2,722
$233
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,431
$1,580
$149
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$951
$2,307
$1,356
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.38×
1.85×
-0.47×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
5/10 (Tight)
7/10 (Moderate)
-2
A vs B
Charlottesville — Full Details
Federal Way — 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.