The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Sound Engineering Technicians: Plano vs Kailua

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

Plano, TX

$60,050/yr

Take-home$3,653/mo
Disposable$858/mo
Lifestyle5/10 · Tight

Kailua, HI

$79,713/yr

Take-home$4,849/mo
Disposable$1,014/mo
Lifestyle4/10 · Tight

Full Breakdown

Plano

Kailua

Diff (A−B)

Annual Gross Salary

$60,050

$79,713

$19,663

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$3,653

$4,849

$1,196

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

104

148

-44 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,795

$3,835

$1,040

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,650

$2,206

$556

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$858

$1,014

$156

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better

1.31×

1.26×

+0.05×

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

5/10 (Tight)

4/10 (Tight)

+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.