Salary comparison
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Boulder vs Topeka
Topeka, KS pays about 5.2% more for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand on paper — $49,140 vs $46,730. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Topeka comes out ahead by $2,410 a year in real buying power.
Boulder, CO
$46,730
$40,460
$48,770
$22.47
100
$46,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Topeka, KS
$49,140
$37,500
$51,030
$23.62
100
$49,140/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,410 a year (5.2%) in favor of Topeka. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Boulder runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Topeka sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Topeka is the better deal by $2,410 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Boulder to Topeka for this role, the raise needs to beat 5.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand earn more, Boulder or Topeka?
Topeka pays $49,140 on median — about 5.2% more than Boulder ($46,730). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Topeka. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Topeka gives you roughly$49,140 of real buying power versus $46,730 in the other city.