Salary Comparison
Pipelayers: Elgin vs Costa Mesa
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Elgin, IL
$56,891/yr
Costa Mesa, CA
$82,090/yr
Our recommendation: Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa offers $215 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Elgin
Costa Mesa
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$56,891
$82,090
$25,199
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,461
$4,994
$1,533
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
90
139
-49 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,407
$3,725
$1,318
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,350
$2,380
$1,030
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,054
$1,269
$215
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.44×
1.34×
+0.10×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
5/10 (Tight)
5/10 (Tight)
+0
A vs B
Elgin — Full Details
Costa Mesa — 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.