Salary comparison
Industrial Engineers: Midland vs Santa Cruz
Midland, TX pays about 7.1% more for industrial engineers on paper — $141,120 vs $131,740. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Midland comes out ahead by $9,380 a year in real buying power.
Midland, TX
$141,120
$104,430
$175,750
$67.85
100
$141,120/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Cruz, CA
$131,740
$107,110
$163,210
$63.34
100
$131,740/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $9,380 a year (7.1%) in favor of Midland. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Midland runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Cruz sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Midland is the better deal by $9,380 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Cruz to Midland for this role, the raise needs to beat 7.1% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do industrial engineers earn more, Midland or Santa Cruz?
Midland pays $141,120 on median — about 7.1% more than Santa Cruz ($131,740). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Midland. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Midland gives you roughly$141,120 of real buying power versus $131,740 in the other city.