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What does a Cooks, Fast Food salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Cooks, Fast Food earning $37,870 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,616 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $35,590 | $32,531 | $-3,058 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,400 | $33,272 | $-3,127 |
| Median (P50) | $37,870 | $34,616 | $-3,253 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $41,600 | $38,025 | $-3,574 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $48,140 | $44,003 | $-4,136 |
While $37,870 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $34,616. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Massachusetts's RPP of 109.4 puts it 9.4% above the national baseline cost of living. A Cooks, Fast Food needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Massachusetts's RPP, the $37,870 median salary translates to $34,616 in real terms — a 8.6% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Cooks, Fast Food.
Massachusetts sits at #13 of 51 states for Cooks, Fast Food COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Cooks, Fast Food salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #13 out of 51 states for Cooks, Fast Food after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Cooks, Fast Food take-home pay in Massachusetts after taxes →
A Cooks, Fast Food in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $37,870 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $34,616 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (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 Cooks, Fast Food in Massachusetts: $37,870 x (100 / 109.4) = $34,616. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Cooks, Fast Food's nominal salary of $37,870 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $34,616. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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