GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Best States to Be a Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary goes furthest in Wyoming — a $108,900 BLS median worth $117,487 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 221.9).
Which US states are best for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders after cost of living and tax?
For a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Wyoming #1: a $108,900 BLS median becomes $117,487 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 221.9). West Virginia ranks last ($39,005, index 73.7). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Wyoming ranks #1 of 50 states for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders. Index 100 = the average state; 221.9 means pay goes 121.9% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedSeparating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $108,900 | — | 92.7 | $117,487 | 221.9 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $59,390 | — | 89.0 | $66,761 | 126.1 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $58,640 | $1,384 | 88.2 | $64,911 | 122.6 |
| 4 | Nevada | $62,960 | — | 100.0 | $62,973 | 118.9 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $58,770 | $2,220 | 90.2 | $62,723 | 118.5 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $60,100 | $2,033 | 94.1 | $61,711 | 116.6 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $60,340 | — | 104.2 | $57,927 | 109.4 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $50,780 | — | 88.6 | $57,323 | 108.3 |
| 9 | Iowa | $52,220 | $1,944 | 87.8 | $57,286 | 108.2 |
| 10 | Maine | $57,190 | $2,246 | 97.0 | $56,615 | 106.9 |
| 11 | Arizona | $57,820 | $971 | 100.7 | $56,467 | 106.7 |
| 12 | Virginia | $59,480 | $2,620 | 101.1 | $56,239 | 106.2 |
| 13 | Indiana | $53,990 | $1,590 | 93.3 | $56,146 | 106.1 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $57,190 | $2,400 | 98.6 | $55,556 | 104.9 |
| 15 | Georgia | $55,500 | $2,345 | 96.3 | $55,202 | 104.3 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $50,470 | — | 91.9 | $54,936 | 103.8 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $49,440 | $1,811 | 87.8 | $54,221 | 102.4 |
| 18 | Vermont | $53,570 | $1,376 | 98.0 | $53,282 | 100.6 |
| 19 | Missouri | $49,290 | $1,436 | 90.8 | $52,693 | 99.5 |
| 20 | Idaho | $52,160 | $1,850 | 95.5 | $52,684 | 99.5 |
| 21 | Washington | $56,160 | — | 107.0 | $52,480 | 99.1 |
| 22 | Kansas | $48,790 | $1,923 | 90.1 | $52,035 | 98.3 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $58,140 | $1,664 | 108.8 | $51,905 | 98.0 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $49,320 | $1,450 | 93.7 | $51,061 | 96.4 |
| 25 | Ohio | $47,640 | $528 | 92.8 | $50,782 | 95.9 |
| 26 | Maryland | $55,580 | $2,307 | 105.0 | $50,756 | 95.9 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $47,080 | $1,353 | 90.1 | $50,750 | 95.9 |
| 28 | Alabama | $46,970 | $2,084 | 88.8 | $50,535 | 95.5 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $49,140 | $1,547 | 94.3 | $50,456 | 95.3 |
| 30 | New York | $55,990 | $2,474 | 107.9 | $49,588 | 93.7 |
| 31 | Michigan | $49,480 | $1,856 | 96.2 | $49,496 | 93.5 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $43,890 | $1,126 | 87.0 | $49,181 | 92.9 |
| 33 | Montana | $47,920 | $1,689 | 94.6 | $48,847 | 92.3 |
| 34 | Texas | $46,910 | — | 97.1 | $48,332 | 91.3 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $48,390 | $1,486 | 97.6 | $48,072 | 90.8 |
| 36 | Florida | $49,610 | — | 103.4 | $47,972 | 90.6 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $50,370 | $1,342 | 103.6 | $47,320 | 89.4 |
| 38 | Alaska | $48,000 | — | 102.4 | $46,894 | 88.6 |
| 39 | Colorado | $49,590 | $1,522 | 103.1 | $46,644 | 88.1 |
| 40 | California | $52,910 | $1,271 | 110.7 | $46,639 | 88.1 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $41,720 | $1,419 | 86.9 | $46,357 | 87.6 |
| 42 | Illinois | $48,440 | $2,257 | 100.0 | $46,203 | 87.3 |
| 43 | Delaware | $47,520 | $1,960 | 99.8 | $45,647 | 86.2 |
| 44 | Oregon | $50,160 | $3,585 | 103.4 | $45,061 | 85.1 |
| 45 | Utah | $46,600 | $2,120 | 98.9 | $44,991 | 85.0 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $46,710 | $1,152 | 102.3 | $44,543 | 84.1 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $51,070 | $2,361 | 110.0 | $44,301 | 83.7 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | $48,970 | $2,229 | 105.8 | $44,197 | 83.5 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $41,370 | $859 | 92.2 | $43,933 | 83.0 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $35,870 | $961 | 89.5 | $39,005 | 73.7 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Wyoming, a $108,900 salary is worth about $117,487 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $108,900 · BEA cost of living 92.7 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $122,931, a $5,444 gain over Wyoming.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $122,931 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $120,378 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $119,756 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $119,730 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $119,370 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $119,356 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $118,537 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $118,083 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $117,487 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $116,473 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $115,955 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $115,815 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders: a BLS median of $108,900 is worth $117,487 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 221.9 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Wyoming has the highest headline BLS median for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders at $108,900, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 221.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go least far?
- West Virginia ranks last of 50 states for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders: a $35,870 BLS median is worth only $39,005 after tax and cost of living (index 73.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS
BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.
Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.