Salary comparison
Cost Estimators: Bozeman vs Worcester
Worcester, MA pays about 7.9% more for cost estimators on paper — $92,570 vs $85,820. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Worcester comes out ahead by $6,750 a year in real buying power.
Bozeman, MT
$85,820
$66,480
$97,530
$41.26
100
$85,820/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Worcester, MA
$92,570
$64,670
$117,820
$44.50
100
$92,570/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $6,750 a year (7.9%) in favor of Worcester. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bozeman runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Worcester sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Worcester is the better deal by $6,750 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Bozeman to Worcester for this role, the raise needs to beat 7.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do cost estimators earn more, Bozeman or Worcester?
Worcester pays $92,570 on median — about 7.9% more than Bozeman ($85,820). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Worcester. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Worcester gives you roughly$92,570 of real buying power versus $85,820 in the other city.