Salary Comparison
Pipelayers: Fairfield vs Brownsville
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Fairfield, CA
$82,090/yr
Brownsville, TX
$46,811/yr
Our recommendation: Fairfield, CA
Fairfield offers $886 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Fairfield
Brownsville
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$82,090
$46,811
+$35,279
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$4,994
$2,848
+$2,146
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
115
68
+47 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,088
$1,828
+$1,260
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,850
$920
+$930
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,906
$1,020
+$886
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.62×
1.56×
+0.06×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
6/10 (Moderate)
+0
A vs B
Fairfield — Full Details
Brownsville — 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.