What does a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary really buy you in Michigan?
Michigan is 6.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Michigan's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 93.4, meaning prices are 6.6% lower the national average. A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earning $72,810 in Michigan has the equivalent purchasing power of $77,955 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $34,840 | $37,301 | +$2,461 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,630 | $55,278 | +$3,648 |
| Median (P50) | $72,810 | $77,955 | +$5,145 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $107,740 | $115,353 | +$7,613 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $138,020 | $147,773 | +$9,753 |
A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Michigan earns $72,810 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $77,955 in an average-cost state. This makes Michigan one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Michigan ranks #21 out of 38 states for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Michigan earns a median salary of $72,810 per year. After adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (RPP=93.4), the real purchasing power is $77,955 — a +7.1% difference.
Michigan's cost of living is 6.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Michigan is 93.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Michigan: $72,810 x (100 / 93.4) = $77,955. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Michigan enjoys 7.1% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.