Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigher's pay go, state by state?
A Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigher's pay leaves the most room in Alaska — about $4,603/mo take-home against $1,361/mo typical rent — and the least in California.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $4,603/mo | $1,361/mo | 30% |
| Wyoming | $3,848/mo | $979/mo | 25% |
| Montana | $3,392/mo | $1,031/mo | 30% |
| North Dakota | $3,269/mo | $911/mo | 28% |
| District of Columbia | $4,217/mo | $1,900/mo | 45% |
| Kansas | $3,263/mo | $1,025/mo | 31% |
| Oklahoma | $3,206/mo | $970/mo | 30% |
| Louisiana | $3,257/mo | $1,028/mo | 32% |
| Washington | $3,841/mo | $1,641/mo | 43% |
| Nebraska | $3,134/mo | $1,017/mo | 32% |
| Missouri | $3,069/mo | $997/mo | 32% |
| Iowa | $2,993/mo | $932/mo | 31% |
| West Virginia | $2,906/mo | $848/mo | 29% |
| Wisconsin | $3,066/mo | $1,033/mo | 34% |
| Maine | $3,121/mo | $1,104/mo | 35% |
| New Mexico | $3,020/mo | $1,034/mo | 34% |
| Indiana | $2,987/mo | $1,022/mo | 34% |
| Minnesota | $3,189/mo | $1,230/mo | 39% |
| Ohio | $2,929/mo | $986/mo | 34% |
| South Dakota | $2,841/mo | $910/mo | 32% |
| Vermont | $3,118/mo | $1,207/mo | 39% |
| Rhode Island | $3,166/mo | $1,289/mo | 41% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,014/mo | $1,176/mo | 39% |
| Kentucky | $2,745/mo | $918/mo | 33% |
| Maryland | $3,503/mo | $1,683/mo | 48% |
| Connecticut | $3,288/mo | $1,483/mo | 45% |
| Oregon | $3,202/mo | $1,431/mo | 45% |
| Arizona | $3,188/mo | $1,419/mo | 45% |
| New Hampshire | $3,184/mo | $1,424/mo | 45% |
| Arkansas | $2,660/mo | $903/mo | 34% |
| Delaware | $3,077/mo | $1,321/mo | 43% |
| Nevada | $3,208/mo | $1,478/mo | 46% |
| South Carolina | $2,818/mo | $1,131/mo | 40% |
| Illinois | $2,907/mo | $1,246/mo | 43% |
| Utah | $3,021/mo | $1,396/mo | 46% |
| Hawaii | $3,506/mo | $1,927/mo | 55% |
| Massachusetts | $3,292/mo | $1,716/mo | 52% |
| Michigan | $2,627/mo | $1,072/mo | 41% |
| Colorado | $3,212/mo | $1,659/mo | 52% |
| Mississippi | $2,463/mo | $933/mo | 38% |
| Virginia | $3,054/mo | $1,547/mo | 51% |
| New York | $3,097/mo | $1,621/mo | 52% |
| North Carolina | $2,620/mo | $1,147/mo | 44% |
| Texas | $2,791/mo | $1,328/mo | 48% |
| Alabama | $2,421/mo | $967/mo | 40% |
| Tennessee | $2,558/mo | $1,111/mo | 43% |
| Idaho | $2,558/mo | $1,163/mo | 45% |
| Florida | $2,896/mo | $1,542/mo | 53% |
| New Jersey | $3,001/mo | $1,656/mo | 55% |
| Georgia | $2,628/mo | $1,320/mo | 50% |
| California | $3,153/mo | $1,969/mo | 62% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.