Salary comparison
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines: Kokomo vs Rochester
Kokomo, IN pays about 12.7% more for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines on paper — $90,040 vs $79,870. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Kokomo comes out ahead by $10,170 a year in real buying power.
Kokomo, IN
$90,040
$66,390
$90,040
$43.29
100
$90,040/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Rochester, MN
$79,870
$63,750
$92,590
$38.40
100
$79,870/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $10,170 a year (12.7%) in favor of Kokomo. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Kokomo runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Rochester sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Kokomo is the better deal by $10,170 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Rochester to Kokomo for this role, the raise needs to beat 12.7% 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, Kokomo or Rochester?
Kokomo pays $90,040 on median — about 12.7% more than Rochester ($79,870). 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$90,040 of real buying power versus $79,870 in the other city.