What does a Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $37,590 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,902 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,370 | $34,737 | $-1,632 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,970 | $35,310 | $-1,659 |
| Median (P50) | $37,590 | $35,902 | $-1,687 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $45,160 | $43,132 | $-2,027 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $59,540 | $56,867 | $-2,672 |
While $37,590 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $35,902. 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.
Rhode Island ranks #39 out of 40 states for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $37,590 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $35,902 — a -4.5% difference.
Rhode Island's cost of living is 4.7% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Rhode Island is 104.7 (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 Rhode Island: $37,590 x (100 / 104.7) = $35,902. 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 $37,590 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $35,902. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.