What does a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in New York?
New York is 7.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
New York's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 107.6, meaning prices are 7.6% higher the national average. A Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic earning $50,470 in New York has the equivalent purchasing power of $46,905 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New York's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,380 | $33,810 | $-2,569 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,530 | $38,596 | $-2,933 |
| Median (P50) | $50,470 | $46,905 | $-3,564 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $58,860 | $54,702 | $-4,157 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $69,710 | $64,786 | $-4,923 |
While $50,470 sounds high, New York's elevated cost of living erases 7% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $46,905. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New York ranks #22 out of 46 states for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in New York earns a median salary of $50,470 per year. After adjusting for New York's cost of living (RPP=107.6), the real purchasing power is $46,905 — a -7.1% difference.
New York's cost of living is 7.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New York is 107.6 (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 Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in New York: $50,470 x (100 / 107.6) = $46,905. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic's nominal salary of $50,470 in New York has 7.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $46,905. However, New York may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.