What does a Physical Therapist Assistants salary really buy you in Michigan?
Michigan is 6.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Michigan's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 93.4, meaning prices are 6.6% lower the national average. A Physical Therapist Assistants earning $60,780 in Michigan has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,074 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $42,640 | $45,653 | +$3,013 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,960 | $55,631 | +$3,671 |
| Median (P50) | $60,780 | $65,074 | +$4,294 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,520 | $69,079 | +$4,559 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,730 | $78,940 | +$5,210 |
A Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan earns $60,780 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $65,074 in an average-cost state. This makes Michigan one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Physical Therapist Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Michigan ranks #28 out of 51 states for Physical Therapist Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Physical Therapist Assistants take-home pay in Michigan after taxes →
A Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan earns a median salary of $60,780 per year. After adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (RPP=93.4), the real purchasing power is $65,074 — a +7.1% difference.
Michigan's cost of living is 6.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Michigan is 93.4 (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 Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan: $60,780 x (100 / 93.4) = $65,074. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physical Therapist Assistants in Michigan enjoys 7.1% 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.