What does a Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant earning $44,980 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,965 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) | $36,280 | $33,041 | $-3,238 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $38,360 | $34,936 | $-3,423 |
| Median (P50) | $44,980 | $40,965 | $-4,014 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $47,180 | $42,969 | $-4,210 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $56,080 | $51,074 | $-5,005 |
While $44,980 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $40,965. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Cooks, Restaurant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #5 out of 50 states for Cooks, Restaurant after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Cooks, Restaurant in Washington earns a median salary of $44,980 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $40,965 — 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 Cooks, Restaurant in Washington: $44,980 x (100 / 109.8) = $40,965. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Cooks, Restaurant's nominal salary of $44,980 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $40,965. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.