Salary comparison
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators: Fairbanks vs Portland
Fairbanks, AK pays about 19.1% more for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators on paper — $99,840 vs $83,860. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Fairbanks comes out ahead by $15,980 a year in real buying power.
Fairbanks, AK
$99,840
$83,010
$102,750
$48.00
100
$99,840/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Portland, OR
$83,860
$64,860
$87,880
$40.32
100
$83,860/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $15,980 a year (19.1%) in favor of Fairbanks. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Fairbanks runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Portland sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Fairbanks is the better deal by $15,980 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Portland to Fairbanks for this role, the raise needs to beat 19.1% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more, Fairbanks or Portland?
Fairbanks pays $99,840 on median — about 19.1% more than Portland ($83,860). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Fairbanks. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Fairbanks gives you roughly$99,840 of real buying power versus $83,860 in the other city.