What does a Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary really buy you in Kansas?
Kansas is 10.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.0, meaning prices are 10.0% lower the national average. A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders earning $57,470 in Kansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $63,855 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $54,290 | $60,322 | +$6,032 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $56,950 | $63,277 | +$6,327 |
| Median (P50) | $57,470 | $63,855 | +$6,385 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $65,890 | $73,211 | +$7,321 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $65,890 | $73,211 | +$7,321 |
A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kansas earns $57,470 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $63,855 in an average-cost state. This makes Kansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kansas ranks #4 out of 39 states for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kansas earns a median salary of $57,470 per year. After adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (RPP=90.0), the real purchasing power is $63,855 — a +11.1% difference.
Kansas's cost of living is 10.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kansas is 90.0 (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 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kansas: $57,470 x (100 / 90.0) = $63,855. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kansas enjoys 11.1% 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.