Salary comparison
Recreation Workers: Bozeman vs Kennewick
Bozeman, MT pays about 3.6% more for recreation workers on paper — $45,010 vs $43,460. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Bozeman comes out ahead by $1,550 a year in real buying power.
Bozeman, MT
$45,010
$35,350
$52,780
$21.64
100
$45,010/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Kennewick, WA
$43,460
$37,870
$51,250
$20.90
100
$43,460/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,550 a year (3.6%) in favor of Bozeman. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bozeman runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Kennewick sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Bozeman is the better deal by $1,550 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Kennewick to Bozeman for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do recreation workers earn more, Bozeman or Kennewick?
Bozeman pays $45,010 on median — about 3.6% more than Kennewick ($43,460). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Bozeman. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Bozeman gives you roughly$45,010 of real buying power versus $43,460 in the other city.