What does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary really buy you in Oregon?
Oregon is 6.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Oregon's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 106.6, meaning prices are 6.6% higher the national average. A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earning $60,230 in Oregon has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,500 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $52,250 | $49,015 | $-3,234 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,800 | $54,221 | $-3,578 |
| Median (P50) | $60,230 | $56,500 | $-3,729 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $68,850 | $64,587 | $-4,262 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $79,630 | $74,699 | $-4,930 |
While $60,230 sounds high, Oregon's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $56,500. 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.
Oregon ranks #26 out of 48 states for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Oregon earns a median salary of $60,230 per year. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (RPP=106.6), the real purchasing power is $56,500 — a -6.2% difference.
Oregon's cost of living is 6.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Oregon is 106.6 (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 Oregon: $60,230 x (100 / 106.6) = $56,500. 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 $60,230 in Oregon has 6.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $56,500. However, Oregon may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.