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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricatorss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricatorss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Atlantic City-Hammonton ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $57,091/year, better purchasing power than New York-Newark-Jersey City's higher nominal pay of $60,130. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 New York-Newark-Jersey City$60,130
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$59,110
#3 Atlantic City-Hammonton$56,440

Best purchasing power

#1 Atlantic City-Hammonton$57,091
#2 New York-Newark-Jersey City$53,420
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$53,190

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed fiberglass laminators and fabricatorss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$56,440
$57,091
#2
$60,130
$53,420
#3
$59,110
$53,190
#4
Elkhart-Goshen
30% rent burden
$47,960
$53,094
#5
$54,080
$52,735
#6
$55,990
$51,713
#7
Cincinnati
33% rent burden
$49,130
$51,515
#8
Jacksonville
40% rent burden
$49,720
$49,980
#9
$50,710
$49,784
#10
Gulfport-Biloxi
31% rent burden
$44,520
$49,461
#11
$49,270
$48,802
#12
$49,650
$48,477
#13
Providence-Warwick
42% rent burden
$49,260
$48,403
#14
$49,820
$48,327
#15
Columbia
34% rent burden
$44,950
$47,993
#16
Green Bay
32% rent burden
$43,940
$47,202
#17
Port St. Lucie
45% rent burden
$47,240
$47,132
#18
$44,270
$46,332
#19
$46,910
$46,253
#20
$38,420
$42,995
#21
$45,760
$42,991
#22
$47,450
$41,780
#23
$46,200
$40,470
#24
$40,750
$40,391
#25
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
64% rent burden
$36,630
$35,789

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricatorss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $60,130 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $50,108 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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators 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 Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricatorss?

Elkhart-Goshen has one of the lowest rent burdens for Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricatorss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,183/month, with a median salary of $47,960.

Where do Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricatorss get paid the most in nominal terms?

New York-Newark-Jersey City pays the highest nominal median salary at $60,130/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorssView →How to become a fiberglass laminators and fabricatorsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →