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What does a Chief Executives 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 Chief Executives earning $235,360 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $224,794 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) | $113,970 | $108,853 | $-5,116 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $181,270 | $173,132 | $-8,137 |
| Median (P50) | $235,360 | $224,794 | $-10,565 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $414,180 | $395,587 | $-18,592 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $561,080 | $535,893 | $-25,186 |
While $235,360 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $224,794. 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 Chief Executives 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 $235,360 median salary translates to $224,795 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Chief Executives.
Rhode Island sits at #19 of 46 states for Chief Executives COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Chief Executives salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #19 out of 46 states for Chief Executives after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Chief Executives take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Chief Executives in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $235,360 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $224,794 — 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 Chief Executives in Rhode Island: $235,360 x (100 / 104.7) = $224,794. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Chief Executives's nominal salary of $235,360 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $224,794. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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