What does a Hydrologic Technicians salary really buy you in Michigan?
Michigan is 6.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Michigan's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 93.4, meaning prices are 6.6% lower the national average. A Hydrologic Technicians earning $54,060 in Michigan has the equivalent purchasing power of $57,880 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $39,560 | $42,355 | +$2,795 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,000 | $52,462 | +$3,462 |
| Median (P50) | $54,060 | $57,880 | +$3,820 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $87,050 | $93,201 | +$6,151 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,650 | $105,620 | +$6,970 |
A Hydrologic Technicians in Michigan earns $54,060 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $57,880 in an average-cost state. This makes Michigan one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Hydrologic Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Michigan ranks #15 out of 29 states for Hydrologic Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Hydrologic Technicians in Michigan earns a median salary of $54,060 per year. After adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (RPP=93.4), the real purchasing power is $57,880 — a +7.1% difference.
Michigan's cost of living is 6.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Michigan is 93.4 (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 Hydrologic Technicians in Michigan: $54,060 x (100 / 93.4) = $57,880. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Hydrologic Technicians in Michigan enjoys 7.1% 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.