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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Idaho Falls ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $88,751/year, better purchasing power than Idaho Falls's higher nominal pay of $83,790. 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 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Idaho Falls$83,790
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$81,850
#3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$76,900

Best purchasing power

#1 Idaho Falls$88,751
#2 Tuscaloosa$80,495
#3 Longview-Kelso$77,078

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed production, planning, and expediting clerks excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Idaho Falls
19% rent burden
$83,790
$88,751
#2
Tuscaloosa
20% rent burden
$70,610
$80,495
#3
Longview-Kelso
23% rent burden
$75,190
$77,078
#4
Wichita
20% rent burden
$66,300
$74,536
#5
$81,850
$73,652
#6
Texarkana
21% rent burden
$61,480
$73,182
#7
Duluth
23% rent burden
$64,460
$72,615
#8
St. Joseph
21% rent burden
$62,720
$72,609
#9
Dubuque
20% rent burden
$63,370
$72,564
#10
Saginaw
20% rent burden
$65,880
$72,483
#11
$76,070
$72,029
#12
Corpus Christi
25% rent burden
$66,540
$71,803
#13
Warner Robins
20% rent burden
$67,290
$71,745
#14
Mobile
21% rent burden
$63,120
$71,646
#15
St. Cloud
23% rent burden
$62,720
$71,574
#16
Lake Charles
24% rent burden
$61,420
$71,543
#17
$60,510
$71,381
#18
Baton Rouge
22% rent burden
$64,630
$71,194
#19
Topeka
20% rent burden
$63,010
$70,941
#20
Mankato
22% rent burden
$64,480
$70,896
#21
El Centro
24% rent burden
$67,000
$70,400
#22
$62,420
$70,072
#23
Lexington-Fayette
24% rent burden
$64,660
$69,609
#24
$76,500
$69,281
#25
Provo-Orem-Lehi
26% rent burden
$67,800
$69,022

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 Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $83,790 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $69,825 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 production, planning, and expediting clerks 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 Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks?

Idaho Falls has one of the lowest rent burdens for Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,305/month, with a median salary of $83,790.

Where do Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks get paid the most in nominal terms?

Idaho Falls pays the highest nominal median salary at $83,790/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksView →How to become a production, planning, and expediting clerksGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →