Salary comparison
Painters, Construction and Maintenance: Champaign vs Santa Cruz
Champaign, IL pays about 35.2% more for painters, construction and maintenance on paper — $84,370 vs $62,400. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Champaign comes out ahead by $21,970 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.
Santa Cruz, CA
$62,400
$49,450
$73,230
$30.00
100
$62,400/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $21,970 a year (35.2%) 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; Santa Cruz sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Champaign is the better deal by $21,970 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Cruz to Champaign for this role, the raise needs to beat 35.2% 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 Santa Cruz?
Champaign pays $84,370 on median — about 35.2% more than Santa Cruz ($62,400). 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 $62,400 in the other city.