What does a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in California?
California is 12.5% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
California's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 112.5, meaning prices are 12.5% higher the national average. A Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $48,780 in California has the equivalent purchasing power of $43,360 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for California's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,320 | $33,173 | $-4,146 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,210 | $36,631 | $-4,578 |
| Median (P50) | $48,780 | $43,360 | $-5,420 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $66,720 | $59,306 | $-7,413 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $80,690 | $71,724 | $-8,965 |
While $48,780 sounds high, California's elevated cost of living erases 11% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $43,360. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
California ranks #37 out of 39 states for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California earns a median salary of $48,780 per year. After adjusting for California's cost of living (RPP=112.5), the real purchasing power is $43,360 — a -11.1% difference.
California's cost of living is 12.5% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for California is 112.5 (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 Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California: $48,780 x (100 / 112.5) = $43,360. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's nominal salary of $48,780 in California has 11.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $43,360. However, California may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.