Salary Comparison
Traffic Technicians: Mobile vs San Jose
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Mobile, AL
$52,199/yr
San Jose, CA
$97,860/yr
Our recommendation: San Jose, CA
San Jose offers $826 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Mobile
San Jose
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$52,199
$97,860
$45,661
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,175
$5,953
$2,778
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
75
148
-73 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,013
$3,965
$1,952
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,050
$2,550
$1,500
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,162
$1,988
$826
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.58×
1.50×
+0.08×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
6/10 (Tight)
+0
A vs B
Mobile — Full Details
San Jose — 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.