Salary comparison
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Peoria vs Santa Maria
Peoria, IL pays about 0.1% more for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers on paper — $78,710 vs $78,640. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Peoria comes out ahead by $70 a year in real buying power.
Peoria, IL
$78,710
$60,170
$99,570
$37.84
100
$78,710/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Maria, CA
$78,640
$62,520
$95,310
$37.81
100
$78,640/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $70 a year (0.1%) in favor of Peoria. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Peoria runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Maria sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Peoria is the better deal by $70 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Maria to Peoria for this role, the raise needs to beat 0.1% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn more, Peoria or Santa Maria?
Peoria pays $78,710 on median — about 0.1% more than Santa Maria ($78,640). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Peoria. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Peoria gives you roughly$78,710 of real buying power versus $78,640 in the other city.