Salary comparison
Carpenters: Los Angeles vs Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI pays about 11.5% more for carpenters on paper — $84,430 vs $75,740. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Oshkosh comes out ahead by $8,690 a year in real buying power.
Los Angeles, CA
$75,740
$59,470
$100,620
$36.41
100
$75,740/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Oshkosh, WI
$84,430
$60,340
$86,280
$40.59
100
$84,430/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $8,690 a year (11.5%) in favor of Oshkosh. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Los Angeles runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Oshkosh sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Oshkosh is the better deal by $8,690 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Los Angeles to Oshkosh for this role, the raise needs to beat 11.5% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do carpenters earn more, Los Angeles or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh pays $84,430 on median — about 11.5% more than Los Angeles ($75,740). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Oshkosh. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Oshkosh gives you roughly$84,430 of real buying power versus $75,740 in the other city.