Salary comparison
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: Boulder vs Durham
Boulder, CO pays about 4.8% more for market research analysts and marketing specialists on paper — $97,600 vs $93,110. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Boulder comes out ahead by $4,490 a year in real buying power.
Boulder, CO
$97,600
$64,080
$134,990
$46.93
100
$97,600/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Durham, NC
$93,110
$62,400
$138,530
$44.76
100
$93,110/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $4,490 a year (4.8%) in favor of Boulder. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Boulder runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Durham sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Boulder is the better deal by $4,490 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Durham to Boulder for this role, the raise needs to beat 4.8% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do market research analysts and marketing specialists earn more, Boulder or Durham?
Boulder pays $97,600 on median — about 4.8% more than Durham ($93,110). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Boulder. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Boulder gives you roughly$97,600 of real buying power versus $93,110 in the other city.