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What does a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants earning $41,690 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,818 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,540 | $34,899 | $-1,640 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,160 | $39,312 | $-1,847 |
| Median (P50) | $41,690 | $39,818 | $-1,871 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $42,360 | $40,458 | $-1,901 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $44,130 | $42,148 | $-1,981 |
While $41,690 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $39,818. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Rhode Island's RPP of 104.7 puts it 4.7% above the national baseline cost of living. A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Rhode Island's RPP, the $41,690 median salary translates to $39,819 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants, Rhode Island places #8 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #8 out of 51 states for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $41,690 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $39,818 — a -4.5% difference.
Rhode Island's cost of living is 4.7% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Rhode Island is 104.7 (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 Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants in Rhode Island: $41,690 x (100 / 104.7) = $39,818. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants's nominal salary of $41,690 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $39,818. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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