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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Beaumont-Port Arthur ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $109,284/year, better purchasing power than Baton Rouge's higher nominal pay of $98,790. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Baton Rouge$98,790
#2 Beaumont-Port Arthur$98,410
#3 Mobile$82,090

Best purchasing power

#1 Beaumont-Port Arthur$109,284
#2 Baton Rouge$108,824
#3 Mobile$93,178

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed chemical equipment operators and tenderss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Beaumont-Port Arthur
13% rent burden
$98,410
$109,284
#2
Baton Rouge
15% rent burden
$98,790
$108,824
#3
Mobile
16% rent burden
$82,090
$93,178
#4
Decatur
15% rent burden
$77,730
$89,130
#5
Midland
18% rent burden
$81,270
$88,414
#6
Gulfport-Biloxi
17% rent burden
$79,470
$88,290
#7
New Orleans-Metairie
20% rent burden
$78,930
$85,238
#8
Lake Charles
20% rent burden
$71,740
$83,564
#9
Corpus Christi
21% rent burden
$77,310
$83,425
#10
Longview-Kelso
22% rent burden
$80,890
$82,922
#11
$81,540
$82,673
#12
Joplin
17% rent burden
$65,590
$76,517
#13
$68,700
$74,755
#14
Kennewick-Richland
25% rent burden
$74,450
$74,390
#15
Parkersburg-Vienna
17% rent burden
$64,560
$74,147
#16
$68,360
$73,450
#17
Bowling Green
21% rent burden
$65,160
$72,255
#18
Tulsa
24% rent burden
$61,360
$68,782
#19
Johnson City
23% rent burden
$59,090
$67,201
#20
Peoria
20% rent burden
$61,300
$67,193
#21
Huntington-Ashland
20% rent burden
$59,070
$66,806
#22
Lakeland-Winter Haven
28% rent burden
$64,100
$65,987
#23
Lima
22% rent burden
$59,120
$65,931
#24
$61,340
$65,773
#25
Spokane-Spokane Valley
21% rent burden
$65,240
$65,012

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $98,790 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $82,325 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A chemical equipment operators and tenders in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss?

Beaumont-Port Arthur has one of the lowest rent burdens for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,103/month, with a median salary of $98,410.

Where do Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenderss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Baton Rouge pays the highest nominal median salary at $98,790/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Chemical Equipment Operators and TenderssView →How to become a chemical equipment operators and tendersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →