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What does a Automotive Body and Related Repairers 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 Body and Related Repairers earning $72,490 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,235 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) | $46,820 | $44,718 | $-2,101 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,140 | $45,978 | $-2,161 |
| Median (P50) | $72,490 | $69,235 | $-3,254 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $74,530 | $71,184 | $-3,345 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $93,600 | $89,398 | $-4,201 |
While $72,490 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $69,235. 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 Body and Related Repairers 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 $72,490 median salary translates to $69,236 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Automotive Body and Related Repairers.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Automotive Body and Related Repairers, Rhode Island places #1 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Automotive Body and Related Repairers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #1 out of 51 states for Automotive Body and Related Repairers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Automotive Body and Related Repairers take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Automotive Body and Related Repairers in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $72,490 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $69,235 — 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 Body and Related Repairers in Rhode Island: $72,490 x (100 / 104.7) = $69,235. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Automotive Body and Related Repairers's nominal salary of $72,490 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $69,235. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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