Salary comparison
Network and Computer Systems Administrators: Baltimore vs Boulder
Baltimore, MD pays about 12.0% more for network and computer systems administrators on paper — $122,950 vs $109,790. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Baltimore comes out ahead by $13,160 a year in real buying power.
Baltimore, MD
$122,950
$94,320
$159,450
$59.11
100
$122,950/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Boulder, CO
$109,790
$99,500
$135,750
$52.79
100
$109,790/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $13,160 a year (12.0%) in favor of Baltimore. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Baltimore runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Boulder sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Baltimore is the better deal by $13,160 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Boulder to Baltimore for this role, the raise needs to beat 12.0% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do network and computer systems administrators earn more, Baltimore or Boulder?
Baltimore pays $122,950 on median — about 12.0% more than Boulder ($109,790). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Baltimore. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Baltimore gives you roughly$122,950 of real buying power versus $109,790 in the other city.