Office Machine Operators, Except Computer Salary
Office Machine Operators, Except Computers in Columbia, MO make a median of $34,770 a year, or about $16.71 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $38,875 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 48.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K 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 office machine operators, except computers
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for office machine operators, except computer in Columbia runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $41K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,160/month, which is 47.8% 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 office machine operators, except computers.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for office machine operators, except computers in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $40K | $42K |
| Kansas City | $41K | $44K |
| Springfield | $36K | $41K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $44K | $43K |
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 office machine operators, except computers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Office Machine Operators, Except Computer pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Office Machine Operators, Except Computer salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $56K | +37% | 70 |
| Vermont | $48K | +18% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +16% | N/A |
| California | $47K | +15% | 2,320 |
| Colorado | $47K | +14% | 250 |
| Washington | $46K | +13% | 340 |
| Minnesota | $46K | +12% | 630 |
| New York | $46K | +12% | 3,780 |
| Rhode Island | $46K | +11% | 70 |
| Nevada | $45K | +11% | 70 |
| Maine | $45K | +10% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $44K | +9% | 930 |
| Illinois | $44K | +8% | 1,150 |
| Montana | $44K | +8% | 120 |
| West Virginia | $43K | +5% | 80 |
| Oregon | $43K | +5% | 370 |
| Virginia | $42K | +2% | 530 |
| District of Columbia | $41K | +1% | 170 |
| Iowa | $41K | +1% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $41K | -1% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | -3% | 550 |
| New Jersey | $39K | -4% | 1,570 |
| Delaware | $39K | -4% | 110 |
| Kansas | $39K | -5% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -5% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -6% | 200 |
| Ohio | $38K | -6% | 750 |
| Florida | $38K | -6% | 560 |
| Hawaii | $38K | -7% | 130 |
| Indiana | $38K | -8% | 600 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -8% | N/A |
| Missouri | $38K | -8% | 880 |
| Wyoming | $37K | -9% | 90 |
| Texas | $37K | -10% | 1,550 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -10% | 70 |
| Michigan | $37K | -10% | 370 |
| Georgia | $37K | -10% | 1,020 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -10% | 1,230 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -11% | 190 |
| Utah | $36K | -11% | 240 |
| Maryland | $36K | -13% | 580 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -14% | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -15% | 290 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -15% | 90 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -17% | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $33K | -20% | 230 |
| Arizona | $32K | -22% | 650 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track office machine operators, except computer salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a office machine operators, except computer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 47.8% 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 $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for office machine operators, except computers in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new office machine operators, except computers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,748/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is office machine operators, except computer a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $35K here vs. $41K 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 office machine operators, except computers?
Columbia pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do office machine operators, except computers make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $34,770 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,130, and experienced office machine operators, except computers can clear $46,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,427/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 47.8% 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 office machine operators, except computer 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 office machine operators, except computer salary is worth about $38,875 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do office machine operators, except computers 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.