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Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood Salary in Pennsylvania: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary really buy you in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania is 3.8% cheaper than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$40,590
Median annual (2025)
+4.0%
Real Purchasing Power
$42,193
COL-adjusted (RPP=96.2)

Pennsylvania Cost of Living Index

Pennsylvania's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 96.2, meaning prices are 3.8% lower the national average. A Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood earning $40,590 in Pennsylvania has the equivalent purchasing power of $42,193 in an average-cost US state.

PA: 96.2
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 Pennsylvania's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $31,210 $32,442 +$1,232
25th Percentile (P25) $36,930 $38,388 +$1,458
Median (P50) $40,590 $42,193 +$1,603
75th Percentile (P75) $47,770 $49,656 +$1,886
90th Percentile (P90) $57,520 $59,792 +$2,272
Key Insight

A Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Pennsylvania earns $40,590 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 4% further — like earning $42,193 in an average-cost state. This makes Pennsylvania one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Pennsylvania Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 96.2

With an RPP of 96.2, Pennsylvania is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+4.0%

After applying Pennsylvania's RPP, the $40,590 median salary translates to $42,193 in real terms — a 4.0% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#30 / 46

Pennsylvania's rank of #30 of 46 states means real purchasing power for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (After Cost of Living)

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

1. Iowa
$54,400
RPP 88.4
2. Montana
$54,363
RPP 90.3
3. Idaho
$52,668
RPP 91.8
$52,538
RPP 97.7
$52,305
RPP 89.8
6. Alaska
$51,647
RPP 102.0
$51,445
RPP 90.6
8. Ohio
$49,191
RPP 91.5
$48,147
RPP 92.3
$48,073
RPP 106.4

Pennsylvania ranks #30 out of 46 states for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood take-home pay in Pennsylvania after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Pennsylvania after cost of living?

A Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Pennsylvania earns a median salary of $40,590 per year. After adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (RPP=96.2), the real purchasing power is $42,193 — a +4.0% difference.

Is Pennsylvania expensive to live in?

Pennsylvania's cost of living is 3.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Pennsylvania is 96.2 (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 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Pennsylvania: $40,590 x (100 / 96.2) = $42,193. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Pennsylvania financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood in Pennsylvania enjoys 4.0% 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.

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