What does a Food Servers, Nonrestaurant 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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant earning $36,540 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $33,400 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) | $33,590 | $30,703 | $-2,886 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,910 | $31,910 | $-2,999 |
| Median (P50) | $36,540 | $33,400 | $-3,139 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $38,340 | $35,045 | $-3,294 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $44,480 | $40,658 | $-3,821 |
While $36,540 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $33,400. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #27 out of 50 states for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $36,540 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $33,400 — 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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Massachusetts: $36,540 x (100 / 109.4) = $33,400. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Food Servers, Nonrestaurant's nominal salary of $36,540 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $33,400. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.