Helpers--Production Workers Salary
In Columbus, GA-AL, helpers--production workers earn $36,080 at the median, or about $17.35 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.3), which stretches that salary to about $40,403 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,088/month, about 44.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Columbus?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbus’s Regional Price Parity (89.3). 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 helpers--production workers
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What this looks like in Columbus
Helpers--production workers pay in Columbus tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,088/month, which is 44.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.3 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for helpers--production workers in metros near Columbus, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $37K | $37K |
| Gainesville | $36K | $37K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $35K | $38K |
| Savannah | $41K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbus, GA-AL
Entry-level helpers--production workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Production Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Helpers--Production Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $46K | +18% | 220 |
| Montana | $46K | +18% | 220 |
| Iowa | $46K | +17% | 2,070 |
| Colorado | $46K | +17% | 1,350 |
| Washington | $45K | +16% | 3,620 |
| Oregon | $45K | +16% | 2,420 |
| Connecticut | $45K | +16% | 1,400 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | +15% | 2,900 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +15% | 700 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | +14% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +14% | 2,570 |
| Maryland | $45K | +14% | 1,650 |
| Hawaii | $44K | +14% | 230 |
| Maine | $44K | +13% | 470 |
| California | $44K | +13% | 16,730 |
| New York | $44K | +11% | 3,810 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | +9% | 690 |
| Alaska | $43K | +9% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +8% | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $42K | +8% | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +8% | 2,900 |
| Michigan | $42K | +7% | 3,610 |
| Illinois | $41K | +6% | 5,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $41K | +5% | 6,450 |
| Missouri | $41K | +4% | 6,250 |
| Wyoming | $40K | +3% | 280 |
| Nevada | $40K | +2% | 680 |
| Arizona | $40K | +2% | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $40K | +1% | 4,280 |
| Vermont | $40K | +1% | 270 |
| North Carolina | $39K | +1% | 4,350 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +1% | 4,450 |
| West Virginia | $39K | +0% | 670 |
| Delaware | $38K | -2% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -2% | 5,270 |
| Idaho | $38K | -2% | 1,140 |
| Florida | $38K | -3% | 5,010 |
| Virginia | $38K | -3% | 3,900 |
| Kansas | $37K | -4% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $37K | -5% | 1,000 |
| Texas | $37K | -6% | 30,470 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -6% | 1,950 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -7% | 3,710 |
| Georgia | $36K | -7% | 4,480 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -7% | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $36K | -8% | 7,230 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -9% | 810 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -9% | 6,760 |
| Mississippi | $34K | -13% | 3,540 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--production workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbus numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--production worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbus?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 44.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,088/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--production workers in Columbus?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--production workers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,613/month. At HUD’s $1,088/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--production worker a high-paying job in Columbus?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Columbus compare to the national average for helpers--production workers?
Columbus pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--production workers make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median is $36,080 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,880, and experienced helpers--production workers can clear $49,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Columbus?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,458/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,088/month, which eats 44.3% 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 helpers--production workers salary go in Columbus?
Columbus has a Regional Price Parity of 89.3 (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 helpers--production workers salary is worth about $40,403 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--production workers 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.