What does a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School earning $98,580 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $89,781 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $66,270 | $60,355 | $-5,914 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,300 | $71,311 | $-6,988 |
| Median (P50) | $98,580 | $89,781 | $-8,798 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $108,880 | $99,162 | $-9,717 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $123,570 | $112,540 | $-11,029 |
While $98,580 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $89,781. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #3 out of 49 states for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Washington earns a median salary of $98,580 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $89,781 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (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 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Washington: $98,580 x (100 / 109.8) = $89,781. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School's nominal salary of $98,580 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $89,781. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.