What does a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in Hawaii?
Hawaii is 10.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Hawaii's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 110.8, meaning prices are 10.8% higher the national average. A Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $70,390 in Hawaii has the equivalent purchasing power of $63,528 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $53,140 | $47,960 | $-5,179 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $66,930 | $60,406 | $-6,523 |
| Median (P50) | $70,390 | $63,528 | $-6,861 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $83,200 | $75,090 | $-8,109 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $91,540 | $82,617 | $-8,922 |
While $70,390 sounds high, Hawaii's elevated cost of living erases 10% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $63,528. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Hawaii ranks #1 out of 49 states for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Hawaii earns a median salary of $70,390 per year. After adjusting for Hawaii's cost of living (RPP=110.8), the real purchasing power is $63,528 — a -9.7% difference.
Hawaii's cost of living is 10.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Hawaii is 110.8 (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 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Hawaii: $70,390 x (100 / 110.8) = $63,528. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's nominal salary of $70,390 in Hawaii has 9.7% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $63,528. However, Hawaii may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.