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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Conveyor Operators and Tenderss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Conveyor Operators and Tenderss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Birmingham ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $59,046/year, better purchasing power than Birmingham's higher nominal pay of $54,110. 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 Birmingham$54,110
#2 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood$52,970
#3 Kansas City$47,240

Best purchasing power

#1 Birmingham$59,046
#2 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood$55,437
#3 Kansas City$51,048

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

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

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Birmingham
28% rent burden
$54,110
$59,046
#2
$52,970
$55,437
#3
Kansas City
34% rent burden
$47,240
$51,048
#4
$45,470
$48,856
#5
Cincinnati
35% rent burden
$45,740
$47,961
#6
$45,770
$47,827
#7
Omaha
39% rent burden
$42,030
$45,730
#8
$43,970
$45,167
#9
$44,500
$44,367
#10
$46,500
$44,362
#11
Sioux Falls
35% rent burden
$39,880
$44,003
#12
Stockton-Lodi
45% rent burden
$46,020
$43,791
#13
$44,570
$43,025
#14
St. Louis
37% rent burden
$39,180
$41,203
#15
$42,610
$40,419
#16
Salt Lake City-Murray
37% rent burden
$40,680
$40,329
#17
$41,380
$40,140
#18
Memphis
42% rent burden
$36,280
$39,358
#19
Columbus
46% rent burden
$37,530
$39,311
#20
$43,600
$39,233
#21
$43,990
$39,081
#22
$41,900
$38,483
#23
$39,310
$38,333
#24
$44,080
$38,128
#25
$39,660
$37,260

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 Conveyor Operators and Tenderss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $54,110 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $45,092 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 conveyor 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 Conveyor Operators and Tenderss?

Birmingham has one of the lowest rent burdens for Conveyor Operators and Tenderss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,266/month, with a median salary of $54,110.

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

Birmingham pays the highest nominal median salary at $54,110/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Conveyor Operators and TenderssView →How to become a conveyor operators and tendersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →