Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earning $49,850 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $47,612 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) | $33,280 | $31,786 | $-1,493 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,280 | $39,426 | $-1,853 |
| Median (P50) | $49,850 | $47,612 | $-2,237 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $60,840 | $58,108 | $-2,731 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $71,750 | $68,529 | $-3,220 |
While $49,850 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $47,612. 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 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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 $49,850 median salary translates to $47,612 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
Rhode Island ranks #40 of 50 — bottom quartile for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #40 out of 50 states for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $49,850 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $47,612 — 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 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Rhode Island: $49,850 x (100 / 104.7) = $47,612. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders's nominal salary of $49,850 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $47,612. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.