What does a Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in Montana?
Montana is 9.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Montana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.3, meaning prices are 9.7% lower the national average. A Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $38,090 in Montana has the equivalent purchasing power of $42,181 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Montana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,180 | $34,529 | +$3,349 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,330 | $40,232 | +$3,902 |
| Median (P50) | $38,090 | $42,181 | +$4,091 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $45,190 | $50,044 | +$4,854 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $53,760 | $59,534 | +$5,774 |
A Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Montana earns $38,090 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $42,181 in an average-cost state. This makes Montana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Montana ranks #38 out of 48 states for Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Montana earns a median salary of $38,090 per year. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (RPP=90.3), the real purchasing power is $42,181 — a +10.7% difference.
Montana's cost of living is 9.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Montana is 90.3 (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 Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Montana: $38,090 x (100 / 90.3) = $42,181. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Grinding/Lapping/Polishing/Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Montana enjoys 10.7% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.