What does a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $48,680 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $47,678 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,260 | $36,493 | $-766 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $42,830 | $41,949 | $-880 |
| Median (P50) | $48,680 | $47,678 | $-1,001 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $55,990 | $54,838 | $-1,151 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,090 | $79,422 | $-1,667 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $48,680 keeps most of its value at $47,678 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #23 out of 35 states for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Virginia earns a median salary of $48,680 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $47,678 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (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 Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Virginia: $48,680 x (100 / 102.1) = $47,678. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's nominal salary of $48,680 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $47,678. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.