Salary Comparison
Pipelayers: Chicago vs Kirkland
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Chicago, IL
$54,280/yr
Kirkland, WA
$82,660/yr
Our recommendation: Kirkland, WA
Kirkland offers $1,320 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Chicago
Kirkland
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$54,280
$82,660
$28,380
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,302
$5,029
$1,727
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
108
128
-20 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,910
$3,317
$407
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,750
$1,908
$158
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$392
$1,712
$1,320
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.13×
1.52×
-0.39×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
4/10 (Tight)
6/10 (Moderate)
-2
A vs B
Chicago — Full Details
Kirkland — 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.