Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's pay go, state by state?
A Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic's pay leaves the most room in Montana — about $4,293/mo take-home against $1,031/mo typical rent — and the least in New Jersey.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $4,293/mo | $1,031/mo | 24% |
| Hawaii | $4,365/mo | $1,927/mo | 44% |
| West Virginia | $2,993/mo | $848/mo | 28% |
| Iowa | $2,918/mo | $932/mo | 32% |
| Vermont | $3,105/mo | $1,207/mo | 39% |
| Maine | $2,997/mo | $1,104/mo | 37% |
| Kentucky | $2,755/mo | $918/mo | 33% |
| Maryland | $3,392/mo | $1,683/mo | 50% |
| Wyoming | $2,590/mo | $979/mo | 38% |
| Nebraska | $2,625/mo | $1,017/mo | 39% |
| North Dakota | $2,514/mo | $911/mo | 36% |
| Ohio | $2,581/mo | $986/mo | 38% |
| Missouri | $2,578/mo | $997/mo | 39% |
| Delaware | $2,850/mo | $1,321/mo | 46% |
| Wisconsin | $2,561/mo | $1,033/mo | 40% |
| Indiana | $2,519/mo | $1,022/mo | 41% |
| South Dakota | $2,402/mo | $910/mo | 38% |
| Mississippi | $2,416/mo | $933/mo | 39% |
| Alabama | $2,447/mo | $967/mo | 40% |
| Oregon | $2,902/mo | $1,431/mo | 49% |
| Minnesota | $2,696/mo | $1,230/mo | 46% |
| Arkansas | $2,367/mo | $903/mo | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,607/mo | $1,176/mo | 45% |
| Utah | $2,801/mo | $1,396/mo | 50% |
| South Carolina | $2,515/mo | $1,131/mo | 45% |
| Tennessee | $2,475/mo | $1,111/mo | 45% |
| Michigan | $2,430/mo | $1,072/mo | 44% |
| Oklahoma | $2,321/mo | $970/mo | 42% |
| Kansas | $2,369/mo | $1,025/mo | 43% |
| New Mexico | $2,374/mo | $1,034/mo | 44% |
| North Carolina | $2,452/mo | $1,147/mo | 47% |
| Illinois | $2,492/mo | $1,246/mo | 50% |
| Washington | $2,881/mo | $1,641/mo | 57% |
| Arizona | $2,634/mo | $1,419/mo | 54% |
| Rhode Island | $2,503/mo | $1,289/mo | 51% |
| Louisiana | $2,214/mo | $1,028/mo | 46% |
| New Hampshire | $2,602/mo | $1,424/mo | 55% |
| Georgia | $2,397/mo | $1,320/mo | 55% |
| Texas | $2,352/mo | $1,328/mo | 56% |
| Nevada | $2,494/mo | $1,478/mo | 59% |
| Idaho | $2,166/mo | $1,163/mo | 54% |
| Colorado | $2,638/mo | $1,659/mo | 63% |
| Florida | $2,495/mo | $1,542/mo | 62% |
| California | $2,902/mo | $1,969/mo | 68% |
| Connecticut | $2,379/mo | $1,483/mo | 62% |
| Virginia | $2,412/mo | $1,547/mo | 64% |
| New York | $2,460/mo | $1,621/mo | 66% |
| Massachusetts | $2,456/mo | $1,716/mo | 70% |
| New Jersey | $2,343/mo | $1,656/mo | 71% |
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.