What does a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $45,530 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $41,617 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,740 | $33,583 | $-3,156 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $38,710 | $35,383 | $-3,326 |
| Median (P50) | $45,530 | $41,617 | $-3,912 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $46,910 | $42,879 | $-4,030 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $60,220 | $55,045 | $-5,174 |
While $45,530 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $41,617. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #23 out of 40 states for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $45,530 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $41,617 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (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 Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Massachusetts: $45,530 x (100 / 109.4) = $41,617. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's nominal salary of $45,530 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $41,617. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.