What does a Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary earning $101,800 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $97,230 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) | $58,700 | $56,064 | $-2,635 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $61,800 | $59,025 | $-2,774 |
| Median (P50) | $101,800 | $97,230 | $-4,569 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $126,410 | $120,735 | $-5,674 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $159,900 | $152,722 | $-7,177 |
While $101,800 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $97,230. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #6 out of 50 states for Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $101,800 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $97,230 — 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 Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Rhode Island: $101,800 x (100 / 104.7) = $97,230. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary's nominal salary of $101,800 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $97,230. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.