What does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earning $74,300 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,915 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) | $47,570 | $43,482 | $-4,087 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $54,940 | $50,219 | $-4,720 |
| Median (P50) | $74,300 | $67,915 | $-6,384 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $79,400 | $72,577 | $-6,822 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $90,830 | $83,025 | $-7,804 |
While $74,300 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $67,915. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #9 out of 48 states for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $74,300 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $67,915 — 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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Massachusetts: $74,300 x (100 / 109.4) = $67,915. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining's nominal salary of $74,300 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $67,915. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.