Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $109,213/year, better purchasing power than Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard's higher nominal pay of $115,340. 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 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard$115,340
#2 Norwich-New London-Willimantic$105,690
#3 Lexington Park$99,980

Best purchasing power

#1 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard$109,213
#2 Lake Charles$107,816
#3 Baton Rouge$105,541

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed first-line supervisors of production and operating workerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$115,340
$109,213
#2
Lake Charles
16% rent burden
$92,560
$107,816
#3
Baton Rouge
15% rent burden
$95,810
$105,541
#4
$105,690
$105,227
#5
Decatur
14% rent burden
$91,450
$103,427
#6
Spartanburg
15% rent burden
$92,070
$101,120
#7
Paducah
15% rent burden
$87,030
$101,104
#8
Lexington Park
22% rent burden
$99,980
$99,226
#9
Decatur
14% rent burden
$84,270
$96,629
#10
Greenville
16% rent burden
$84,260
$95,317
#11
Sioux City
17% rent burden
$82,170
$95,049
#12
Kokomo
16% rent burden
$83,500
$93,140
#13
Brunswick-St. Simons
19% rent burden
$79,910
$91,107
#14
Gulfport-Biloxi
17% rent burden
$81,260
$90,279
#15
Beaumont-Port Arthur
16% rent burden
$80,860
$89,795
#16
St. Joseph
17% rent burden
$77,370
$89,569
#17
Mobile
17% rent burden
$78,760
$89,398
#18
Kingsport-Bristol
16% rent burden
$76,820
$88,861
#19
Lawrence
18% rent burden
$79,800
$88,431
#20
Dubuque
17% rent burden
$77,130
$88,320
#21
Billings
21% rent burden
$82,280
$87,972
#22
Alexandria
16% rent burden
$74,980
$87,501
#23
$87,000
$87,376
#24
Staunton-Stuarts Draft
19% rent burden
$79,460
$87,194
#25
Topeka
16% rent burden
$77,360
$87,098

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 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $115,340 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $96,117 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 first-line supervisors of production and operating workers 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 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss?

Decatur has one of the lowest rent burdens for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,063/month, with a median salary of $91,450.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard pays the highest nominal median salary at $115,340/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkerssView →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →