Salary comparison
Security Guards: Ithaca vs Kennewick
Kennewick, WA pays about 10.4% more for security guards on paper — $54,670 vs $49,540. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Kennewick comes out ahead by $5,130 a year in real buying power.
Ithaca, NY
$49,540
$40,170
$58,600
$23.82
100
$49,540/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Kennewick, WA
$54,670
$40,550
$84,540
$26.29
100
$54,670/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $5,130 a year (10.4%) in favor of Kennewick. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Ithaca runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Kennewick sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Kennewick is the better deal by $5,130 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Ithaca to Kennewick for this role, the raise needs to beat 10.4% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do security guards earn more, Ithaca or Kennewick?
Kennewick pays $54,670 on median — about 10.4% more than Ithaca ($49,540). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Kennewick. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Kennewick gives you roughly$54,670 of real buying power versus $49,540 in the other city.