Salary comparison
Machinists: Albany vs Bismarck
Bismarck, ND pays about 3.9% more for machinists on paper — $74,090 vs $71,300. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Bismarck comes out ahead by $2,790 a year in real buying power.
Albany, OR
$71,300
$60,080
$83,350
$34.28
100
$71,300/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Bismarck, ND
$74,090
$59,660
$78,710
$35.62
100
$74,090/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,790 a year (3.9%) in favor of Bismarck. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Albany runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Bismarck sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Bismarck is the better deal by $2,790 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Albany to Bismarck for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do machinists earn more, Albany or Bismarck?
Bismarck pays $74,090 on median — about 3.9% more than Albany ($71,300). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Bismarck. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Bismarck gives you roughly$74,090 of real buying power versus $71,300 in the other city.