Comparative Pay Statistics - OWH Report

[ita]

OWH's article on comparative pay to regional competitors confirms one issue that has been brought up before about the City's problems with recruiting professionals, talent, and trade workers: employers pay less here than in our city's and our cost of living is grown. An interesting statistical comparison is what this looked like 10 years ago, in that it was the inverse; Omaha has a leader in pay and enjoyed a comparative low cost of living. The 16 job categories including jobs in the health, financial, trade, and tech industries. The city lags generally in the mid to bottom of each category, and when cost of living is accounted for, near the bottom for mean salary. The other cities include Des Moines, KC, OKC, SLC, Colorado Springs, and Louisville.

An interesting note, regional leaders like to look to SLC for a success story in recruiting talent and tech businesses and transit implementation. However, SLC lagged near the bottom in all of the job categories for average salaries and is easily the most costly city.

Additionally, we lagged behind Des Moines in pay for almost all job sectors included, and lagged average mean salary for all 16 jobs and accounting for cost of living by $6,000.00, for anyone keeping score of that rivalry.

https://www.omaha.com/money/plus/feel-u ... 9e.html#16

[RNcyanide]

Living in Boston, almost every aspect in the cost of living is substantially higher than Omaha. But as an RN with three years of experience, I am making $14,000 per year more than I was at home. I'm still coming out ahead.

[ricko]

I've done the calculations as well----Metro D.C. vs. Omaha. The only things that are more expensive here (for me) are housing and going out to drink. Everything else is about the same, or less, believe it or not. Considering the variance in salaries/income/commissions, I come out slightly ahead here (Va.), especially when you compare the difference in tax rates----Virginia's are much lower.

[nativeomahan]

I've done the calculations as well----Metro D.C. vs. Omaha. The only things that are more expensive here (for me) are housing and going out to drink. Everything else is about the same, or less, believe it or not. Considering the variance in salaries/income/commissions, I come out slightly ahead here (Va.), especially when you compare the difference in tax rates----Virginia's are much lower.

Everything is about the same price except for Housing and alcohol....well, those could still be deal breakers for many people!

I have found that to be true in pretty much every big city. Land costs are much higher, so housing costs follow that trend. And entertainment costs in general (going out to a higher end restaurant, going to a bar or club, or to the movies or a live performance) are noticeably more expensive...maybe 25-50% more than they would be in Omaha. Fuel prices are typically higher in large cities as well, but then many people use public transportation, so they might well come out ahead in terms of those expenses. My friends in DC were probably earning $15-20k more per year than they would be paid if they lived in a small city. So adding $1,000 a month to their rent cost vs. a place like Omaha, and an extra $100 a week for entertainment, ends up being about a wash.