Salary comparison
Painters, Construction and Maintenance: Champaign vs San Jose
Champaign, IL pays about 36.1% more for painters, construction and maintenance on paper — $84,370 vs $61,970. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Champaign comes out ahead by $22,400 a year in real buying power.
Champaign, IL
$84,370
$55,240
$86,620
$40.56
100
$84,370/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Jose, CA
$61,970
$56,780
$78,330
$29.79
100
$61,970/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $22,400 a year (36.1%) in favor of Champaign. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Champaign runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Champaign is the better deal by $22,400 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from San Jose to Champaign for this role, the raise needs to beat 36.1% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do painters, construction and maintenance earn more, Champaign or San Jose?
Champaign pays $84,370 on median — about 36.1% more than San Jose ($61,970). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Champaign. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Champaign gives you roughly$84,370 of real buying power versus $61,970 in the other city.