What does a Childcare Workers salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Childcare Workers earning $29,340 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $31,960 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $22,080 | $24,052 | +$1,972 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $26,160 | $28,496 | +$2,336 |
| Median (P50) | $29,340 | $31,960 | +$2,620 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $32,490 | $35,392 | +$2,902 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $37,160 | $40,479 | +$3,319 |
A Childcare Workers in Indiana earns $29,340 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $31,960 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Childcare Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #26 out of 50 states for Childcare Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Childcare Workers in Indiana earns a median salary of $29,340 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $31,960 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (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 Childcare Workers in Indiana: $29,340 x (100 / 91.8) = $31,960. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Childcare Workers in Indiana enjoys 8.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.