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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Machine Feeders and Offbearerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Machine Feeders and Offbearerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Kansas City ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $83,315/year, better purchasing power than Kansas City's higher nominal pay of $77,100. 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 Kansas City$77,100
#2 Columbus$60,410
#3 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington$53,650

Best purchasing power

#1 Kansas City$83,315
#2 Columbus$63,276
#3 Utica-Rome$55,460

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed machine feeders and offbearerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Kansas City
21% rent burden
$77,100
$83,315
#2
Columbus
28% rent burden
$60,410
$63,276
#3
Utica-Rome
27% rent burden
$51,400
$55,460
#4
$48,430
$54,197
#5
Memphis
31% rent burden
$49,200
$53,374
#6
Sioux City
31% rent burden
$44,410
$51,371
#7
$53,650
$51,183
#8
Toledo
28% rent burden
$45,880
$50,169
#9
$46,000
$49,628
#10
Akron
33% rent burden
$46,190
$49,470
#11
Vineland
43% rent burden
$46,660
$48,619
#12
Sioux Falls
32% rent burden
$43,720
$48,240
#13
Harrisonburg
35% rent burden
$45,610
$48,066
#14
St. Louis
32% rent burden
$45,430
$47,776
#15
$43,870
$47,137
#16
Stockton-Lodi
42% rent burden
$49,260
$46,874
#17
Birmingham
36% rent burden
$42,750
$46,650
#18
Cleveland
35% rent burden
$43,630
$46,454
#19
$46,310
$46,171
#20
Medford
39% rent burden
$46,630
$45,973
#21
Omaha
39% rent burden
$41,680
$45,349
#22
Albany
39% rent burden
$45,900
$44,956
#23
Eugene-Springfield
44% rent burden
$45,550
$44,846
#24
Fort Smith
30% rent burden
$37,710
$43,905
#25
Bend
47% rent burden
$45,360
$43,780

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 Machine Feeders and Offbearerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $77,100 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $64,250 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 machine feeders and offbearers 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 Machine Feeders and Offbearerss?

Kansas City has one of the lowest rent burdens for Machine Feeders and Offbearerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,358/month, with a median salary of $77,100.

Where do Machine Feeders and Offbearerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Kansas City pays the highest nominal median salary at $77,100/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Machine Feeders and OffbearerssView →How to become a machine feeders and offbearersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →