Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Production and Operating Worker's pay go, state by state?
A Production and Operating Worker's pay leaves the most room in Wyoming — about $5,857/mo take-home against $979/mo typical rent — and the least in Nevada.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $5,857/mo | $979/mo | 17% |
| District of Columbia | $5,868/mo | $1,900/mo | 32% |
| Louisiana | $4,921/mo | $1,028/mo | 21% |
| North Dakota | $4,781/mo | $911/mo | 19% |
| Alaska | $5,161/mo | $1,361/mo | 26% |
| Rhode Island | $5,054/mo | $1,289/mo | 26% |
| Maine | $4,864/mo | $1,104/mo | 23% |
| Minnesota | $4,811/mo | $1,230/mo | 26% |
| Delaware | $4,841/mo | $1,321/mo | 27% |
| Connecticut | $4,999/mo | $1,483/mo | 30% |
| New Hampshire | $4,889/mo | $1,424/mo | 29% |
| Kansas | $4,473/mo | $1,025/mo | 23% |
| South Carolina | $4,571/mo | $1,131/mo | 25% |
| South Dakota | $4,290/mo | $910/mo | 21% |
| Kentucky | $4,259/mo | $918/mo | 22% |
| New Jersey | $4,987/mo | $1,656/mo | 33% |
| Pennsylvania | $4,492/mo | $1,176/mo | 26% |
| New York | $4,935/mo | $1,621/mo | 33% |
| Iowa | $4,232/mo | $932/mo | 22% |
| Oklahoma | $4,262/mo | $970/mo | 23% |
| Wisconsin | $4,323/mo | $1,033/mo | 24% |
| Alabama | $4,208/mo | $967/mo | 23% |
| Washington | $4,866/mo | $1,641/mo | 34% |
| West Virginia | $4,051/mo | $848/mo | 21% |
| Mississippi | $4,117/mo | $933/mo | 23% |
| Nebraska | $4,193/mo | $1,017/mo | 24% |
| Massachusetts | $4,884/mo | $1,716/mo | 35% |
| Indiana | $4,185/mo | $1,022/mo | 24% |
| Ohio | $4,126/mo | $986/mo | 24% |
| Missouri | $4,120/mo | $997/mo | 24% |
| Michigan | $4,167/mo | $1,072/mo | 26% |
| Vermont | $4,270/mo | $1,207/mo | 28% |
| Colorado | $4,683/mo | $1,659/mo | 35% |
| Arkansas | $3,903/mo | $903/mo | 23% |
| Maryland | $4,675/mo | $1,683/mo | 36% |
| North Carolina | $4,131/mo | $1,147/mo | 28% |
| Montana | $3,988/mo | $1,031/mo | 26% |
| Virginia | $4,470/mo | $1,547/mo | 35% |
| Illinois | $4,168/mo | $1,246/mo | 30% |
| Arizona | $4,332/mo | $1,419/mo | 33% |
| Tennessee | $4,007/mo | $1,111/mo | 28% |
| Georgia | $4,191/mo | $1,320/mo | 31% |
| California | $4,830/mo | $1,969/mo | 41% |
| New Mexico | $3,864/mo | $1,034/mo | 27% |
| Utah | $4,191/mo | $1,396/mo | 33% |
| Texas | $4,063/mo | $1,328/mo | 33% |
| Idaho | $3,884/mo | $1,163/mo | 30% |
| Oregon | $4,124/mo | $1,431/mo | 35% |
| Florida | $3,927/mo | $1,542/mo | 39% |
| Hawaii | $4,246/mo | $1,927/mo | 45% |
| Nevada | $3,661/mo | $1,478/mo | 40% |
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.