Salary comparison
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines: Farmington vs San Francisco
San Francisco, CA pays about 19.7% more for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines on paper — $95,410 vs $79,730. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Francisco comes out ahead by $15,680 a year in real buying power.
Farmington, NM
$79,730
$61,240
$89,320
$38.33
100
$79,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Francisco, CA
$95,410
$79,100
$106,240
$45.87
100
$95,410/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $15,680 a year (19.7%) in favor of San Francisco. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Farmington runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Francisco sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Francisco is the better deal by $15,680 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Farmington to San Francisco for this role, the raise needs to beat 19.7% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines earn more, Farmington or San Francisco?
San Francisco pays $95,410 on median — about 19.7% more than Farmington ($79,730). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Francisco. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Francisco gives you roughly$95,410 of real buying power versus $79,730 in the other city.