Salary comparison
Industrial Machinery Mechanics: Great Falls vs Kokomo
Kokomo, IN pays about 10.7% more for industrial machinery mechanics on paper — $91,470 vs $82,620. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Kokomo comes out ahead by $8,850 a year in real buying power.
Great Falls, MT
$82,620
$57,660
$87,090
$39.72
100
$82,620/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Kokomo, IN
$91,470
$62,790
$91,470
$43.98
100
$91,470/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $8,850 a year (10.7%) in favor of Kokomo. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Great Falls runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Kokomo sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Kokomo is the better deal by $8,850 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Great Falls to Kokomo for this role, the raise needs to beat 10.7% 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 machinery mechanics earn more, Great Falls or Kokomo?
Kokomo pays $91,470 on median — about 10.7% more than Great Falls ($82,620). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Kokomo. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Kokomo gives you roughly$91,470 of real buying power versus $82,620 in the other city.