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Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Salary in Missouri: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary really buy you in Missouri?

Missouri is 8.9% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$52,040
Median annual (2025)
+9.8%
Real Purchasing Power
$57,124
COL-adjusted (RPP=91.1)

Missouri Cost of Living Index

Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.1, meaning prices are 8.9% lower the national average. A Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining earning $52,040 in Missouri has the equivalent purchasing power of $57,124 in an average-cost US state.

MO: 91.1
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $39,160 $42,985 +$3,825
25th Percentile (P25) $45,890 $50,373 +$4,483
Median (P50) $52,040 $57,124 +$5,084
75th Percentile (P75) $56,990 $62,557 +$5,567
90th Percentile (P90) $58,120 $63,798 +$5,678
Key Insight

A Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in Missouri earns $52,040 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $57,124 in an average-cost state. This makes Missouri one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Missouri Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 91.1

Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.1 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.9% less than the national average. For a Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+9.8%

After applying Missouri's RPP, the $52,040 median salary translates to $57,124 in real terms — a 9.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#14 / 20

Missouri's rank of #14 of 20 states means real purchasing power for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (After Cost of Living)

Where does Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Wyoming
$121,991
RPP 91.9
2. Alaska
$91,303
RPP 102.0
3. Nevada
$86,016
RPP 96.4
$85,982
RPP 93.6
$84,024
RPP 89.2
$78,212
RPP 96.2
7. Ohio
$78,010
RPP 91.5
$77,370
RPP 102.3
$75,318
RPP 102.1
10. Illinois
$74,916
RPP 101.3

Missouri ranks #14 out of 20 states for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining take-home pay in Missouri after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in Missouri after cost of living?

A Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in Missouri earns a median salary of $52,040 per year. After adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (RPP=91.1), the real purchasing power is $57,124 — a +9.8% difference.

Is Missouri expensive to live in?

Missouri's cost of living is 8.9% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Missouri is 91.1 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in Missouri: $52,040 x (100 / 91.1) = $57,124. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in Missouri financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining in Missouri enjoys 9.8% 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.

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