Salary comparison
Industrial Engineers: Charleston vs Seattle
Charleston, WV pays about 9.6% more for industrial engineers on paper — $143,860 vs $131,210. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Charleston comes out ahead by $12,650 a year in real buying power.
Charleston, WV
$143,860
$130,540
$163,090
$69.16
100
$143,860/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Seattle, WA
$131,210
$105,810
$164,870
$63.08
100
$131,210/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $12,650 a year (9.6%) in favor of Charleston. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Charleston runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Seattle sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Charleston is the better deal by $12,650 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Seattle to Charleston for this role, the raise needs to beat 9.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do industrial engineers earn more, Charleston or Seattle?
Charleston pays $143,860 on median — about 9.6% more than Seattle ($131,210). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Charleston. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Charleston gives you roughly$143,860 of real buying power versus $131,210 in the other city.