Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary really buy you in California?
California is 12.5% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
California's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 112.5, meaning prices are 12.5% higher the national average. A Education Administrators, Postsecondary earning $125,460 in California has the equivalent purchasing power of $111,520 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for California's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $76,700 | $68,177 | $-8,522 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $94,440 | $83,946 | $-10,493 |
| Median (P50) | $125,460 | $111,520 | $-13,940 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $169,550 | $150,711 | $-18,838 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $216,480 | $192,426 | $-24,053 |
While $125,460 sounds high, California's elevated cost of living erases 11% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $111,520. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
California's RPP of 112.5 puts it 12.5% above the national baseline cost of living. A Education Administrators, Postsecondary needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
Adjusting $125,460 for California's cost of living yields $111,520 — a 11.1% loss in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
California sits at #24 of 51 states for Education Administrators, Postsecondary COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
California ranks #24 out of 51 states for Education Administrators, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Education Administrators, Postsecondary take-home pay in California after taxes →
A Education Administrators, Postsecondary in California earns a median salary of $125,460 per year. After adjusting for California's cost of living (RPP=112.5), the real purchasing power is $111,520 — a -11.1% difference.
California's cost of living is 12.5% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for California is 112.5 (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 Education Administrators, Postsecondary in California: $125,460 x (100 / 112.5) = $111,520. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Education Administrators, Postsecondary's nominal salary of $125,460 in California has 11.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $111,520. However, California may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.