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Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$43,740
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$43,178
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders earning $43,740 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $43,178 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $40,890 $40,365 $-524
25th Percentile (P25) $43,210 $42,655 $-554
Median (P50) $43,740 $43,178 $-561
75th Percentile (P75) $45,830 $45,241 $-588
90th Percentile (P90) $46,470 $45,873 $-596
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $43,740 keeps most of its value at $43,178 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $43,740 nominal nets out to $43,179 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#19 / 39

Illinois sits at #19 of 39 states for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders (After Cost of Living)

Where does Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Maine
$64,097
RPP 100.8
$58,819
RPP 92.3
$54,385
RPP 88.7
4. Iowa
$53,133
RPP 88.4
$50,879
RPP 89.8
$50,875
RPP 88.0
$49,896
RPP 96.2
8. Ohio
$49,693
RPP 91.5
9. Indiana
$47,734
RPP 91.8
10. Michigan
$47,537
RPP 93.4

Illinois ranks #19 out of 39 states for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in Illinois after cost of living?

A Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in Illinois earns a median salary of $43,740 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $43,178 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in Illinois: $43,740 x (100 / 101.3) = $43,178. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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