What does a Highway Maintenance Workers 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 Highway Maintenance Workers earning $59,240 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,149 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) | $45,300 | $41,407 | $-3,892 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,880 | $44,680 | $-4,199 |
| Median (P50) | $59,240 | $54,149 | $-5,090 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $67,710 | $61,892 | $-5,817 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,270 | $66,974 | $-6,295 |
While $59,240 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $54,149. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Highway Maintenance Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #14 out of 49 states for Highway Maintenance Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Highway Maintenance Workers in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $59,240 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $54,149 — 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 Highway Maintenance Workers in Massachusetts: $59,240 x (100 / 109.4) = $54,149. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Highway Maintenance Workers's nominal salary of $59,240 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $54,149. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.