Salary comparison
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Bend vs Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN pays about 10.1% more for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters on paper — $101,630 vs $92,330. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Minneapolis comes out ahead by $9,300 a year in real buying power.
Bend, OR
$92,330
$61,960
$99,040
$44.39
100
$92,330/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Minneapolis, MN
$101,630
$65,290
$114,980
$48.86
100
$101,630/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $9,300 a year (10.1%) in favor of Minneapolis. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bend runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Minneapolis sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Minneapolis is the better deal by $9,300 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Bend to Minneapolis for this role, the raise needs to beat 10.1% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more, Bend or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis pays $101,630 on median — about 10.1% more than Bend ($92,330). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Minneapolis. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Minneapolis gives you roughly$101,630 of real buying power versus $92,330 in the other city.