Salary comparison
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: Ames vs Bremerton
Bremerton, WA pays about 16.4% more for inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers on paper — $71,950 vs $61,820. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Bremerton comes out ahead by $10,130 a year in real buying power.
Ames, IA
$61,820
$49,470
$64,980
$29.72
100
$61,820/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Bremerton, WA
$71,950
$58,840
$78,690
$34.59
100
$71,950/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $10,130 a year (16.4%) in favor of Bremerton. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Ames runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Bremerton sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Bremerton is the better deal by $10,130 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Ames to Bremerton for this role, the raise needs to beat 16.4% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers earn more, Ames or Bremerton?
Bremerton pays $71,950 on median — about 16.4% more than Ames ($61,820). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Bremerton. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Bremerton gives you roughly$71,950 of real buying power versus $61,820 in the other city.