What does a Machinists salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Machinists earning $52,030 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,370 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,560 | $40,693 | +$3,133 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,670 | $50,563 | +$3,893 |
| Median (P50) | $52,030 | $56,370 | +$4,340 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,670 | $66,814 | +$5,144 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $71,660 | $77,638 | +$5,978 |
A Machinists in Wisconsin earns $52,030 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $56,370 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Machinists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wisconsin ranks #36 out of 50 states for Machinists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Machinists in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $52,030 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $56,370 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (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 Machinists in Wisconsin: $52,030 x (100 / 92.3) = $56,370. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Machinists in Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% 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.