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What does a Bus Drivers, School 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 Bus Drivers, School earning $58,700 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,064 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) | $47,780 | $45,635 | $-2,144 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,640 | $46,456 | $-2,183 |
| Median (P50) | $58,700 | $56,064 | $-2,635 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,010 | $59,226 | $-2,783 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $67,180 | $64,164 | $-3,015 |
While $58,700 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $56,064. 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 Bus Drivers, School 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 $58,700 median salary translates to $56,065 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Bus Drivers, School.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Bus Drivers, School, Rhode Island places #5 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Bus Drivers, School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #5 out of 51 states for Bus Drivers, School after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Bus Drivers, School take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Bus Drivers, School in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $58,700 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $56,064 — 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 Bus Drivers, School in Rhode Island: $58,700 x (100 / 104.7) = $56,064. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Bus Drivers, School's nominal salary of $58,700 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $56,064. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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