What does a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 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 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $59,430 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,323 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) | $45,840 | $41,901 | $-3,938 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,620 | $44,442 | $-4,177 |
| Median (P50) | $59,430 | $54,323 | $-5,106 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $69,450 | $63,482 | $-5,967 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $82,320 | $75,246 | $-7,073 |
While $59,430 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $54,323. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #12 out of 40 states for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $59,430 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $54,323 — 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 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Massachusetts: $59,430 x (100 / 109.4) = $54,323. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's nominal salary of $59,430 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $54,323. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.