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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 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
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 $53,590 in Michigan has the equivalent purchasing power of $57,376 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) | $33,280 | $35,631 | +$2,351 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,950 | $40,631 | +$2,681 |
| Median (P50) | $53,590 | $57,376 | +$3,786 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $79,440 | $85,053 | +$5,613 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,420 | $105,374 | +$6,954 |
A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Michigan earns $53,590 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $57,376 in an average-cost state. This makes Michigan one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 93.4, Michigan is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After applying Michigan's RPP, the $53,590 median salary translates to $57,377 in real terms — a 7.1% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels.
Michigan ranks #37 of 38 — bottom quartile for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Michigan ranks #37 out of 38 states for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels take-home pay in Michigan after taxes →
A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Michigan earns a median salary of $53,590 per year. After adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (RPP=93.4), the real purchasing power is $57,376 — 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: $53,590 x (100 / 93.4) = $57,376. 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.
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