What does a Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Architects, Except Landscape and Naval earning $101,980 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $93,217 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $76,610 | $70,027 | $-6,582 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $83,890 | $76,681 | $-7,208 |
| Median (P50) | $101,980 | $93,217 | $-8,762 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $134,350 | $122,806 | $-11,543 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $173,060 | $158,190 | $-14,869 |
While $101,980 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $93,217. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #27 out of 50 states for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $101,980 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $93,217 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in Massachusetts: $101,980 x (100 / 109.4) = $93,217. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Architects, Except Landscape and Naval's nominal salary of $101,980 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $93,217. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.