Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Salary
In Columbia, MO, engine and other machine assemblers earn $46,500 at the median, or about $22.36 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $51,990 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About engine and other machine assemblers
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for engine and other machine assemblers in Columbia runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $54K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,160/month, which is 36.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for engine and other machine assemblerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for engine and other machine assemblers in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $49K | $55K |
| St. Louis | $52K | $55K |
| Kansas City | $45K | $49K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $50K | $48K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level engine and other machine assemblers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Engine and Other Machine Assemblers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $75K | +39% | 3,430 |
| Washington | $73K | +36% | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $70K | +31% | 160 |
| Oregon | $63K | +18% | 110 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +14% | 170 |
| Michigan | $61K | +13% | 5,030 |
| Minnesota | $59K | +10% | 270 |
| Arkansas | $55K | +2% | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $54K | +1% | 860 |
| Idaho | $54K | +1% | 70 |
| Arizona | $54K | +1% | 80 |
| Florida | $53K | -2% | 800 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | -3% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $51K | -5% | 140 |
| Illinois | $50K | -8% | 650 |
| Nebraska | $50K | -8% | 110 |
| Utah | $49K | -9% | 150 |
| Texas | $47K | -12% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -13% | 1,960 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | -13% | 500 |
| California | $47K | -13% | 1,170 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -13% | 430 |
| Missouri | $47K | -13% | 1,020 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -13% | 580 |
| New York | $46K | -13% | 1,330 |
| Colorado | $46K | -14% | N/A |
| Iowa | $46K | -14% | 60 |
| South Dakota | $46K | -14% | 550 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -15% | 2,750 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -16% | 130 |
| Kansas | $43K | -21% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $42K | -23% | 1,180 |
| Maryland | $39K | -27% | 90 |
| Georgia | $39K | -28% | 410 |
| Virginia | $36K | -33% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track engine and other machine assemblers salary changes
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Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a engine and other machine assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for engine and other machine assemblers in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new engine and other machine assemblers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,534/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is engine and other machine assembler a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $47K here vs. $54K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for engine and other machine assemblers?
Columbia pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do engine and other machine assemblers make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $46,500 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,230, and experienced engine and other machine assemblers can clear $53,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,165/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 36.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a engine and other machine assemblers salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median engine and other machine assemblers salary is worth about $51,990 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do engine and other machine assemblers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.