Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links marked with (Ad). If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in North Dakota: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary really buy you in North Dakota?

North Dakota is 11.3% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$43,480
Median annual (2025)
+12.7%
Real Purchasing Power
$49,019
COL-adjusted (RPP=88.7)

North Dakota Cost of Living Index

North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.7, meaning prices are 11.3% lower the national average. A Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earning $43,480 in North Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $49,019 in an average-cost US state.

ND: 88.7
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $43,370 $48,895 +$5,525
25th Percentile (P25) $43,370 $48,895 +$5,525
Median (P50) $43,480 $49,019 +$5,539
75th Percentile (P75) $45,260 $51,025 +$5,765
90th Percentile (P90) $49,510 $55,817 +$6,307
Key Insight

A Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Dakota earns $43,480 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $49,019 in an average-cost state. This makes North Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

North Dakota Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 88.7

North Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 88.7 means a basket of goods and services costs about 11.3% less than the national average. For a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+12.7%

Adjusting $43,480 for North Dakota's cost of living yields $49,019 — a 12.7% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#28 / 39

North Dakota's rank of #28 of 39 states means real purchasing power for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (After Cost of Living)

Where does Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Iowa
$82,205
RPP 88.4
$69,615
RPP 96.2
3. Vermont
$65,519
RPP 101.1
$62,047
RPP 97.7
5. Alabama
$60,797
RPP 87.8
$58,542
RPP 105.0
$57,887
RPP 109.8
$56,964
RPP 106.4
$56,589
RPP 107.6
10. Kentucky
$56,375
RPP 89.4

North Dakota ranks #28 out of 39 states for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic take-home pay in North Dakota after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Dakota after cost of living?

A Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Dakota earns a median salary of $43,480 per year. After adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.7), the real purchasing power is $49,019 — a +12.7% difference.

Is North Dakota expensive to live in?

North Dakota's cost of living is 11.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Dakota is 88.7 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Dakota: $43,480 x (100 / 88.7) = $49,019. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Dakota financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Dakota enjoys 12.7% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

What To Do Next

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Related Salary Pages

Get Monthly Salary Insights & Career Data

Free data-driven career updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Join career-minded Americans who use data to make smarter decisions. Privacy Policy