What does a Engineers, All Other salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Engineers, All Other earning $142,110 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $139,187 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $77,760 | $76,160 | $-1,599 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $111,740 | $109,441 | $-2,298 |
| Median (P50) | $142,110 | $139,187 | $-2,922 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $181,210 | $177,482 | $-3,727 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $195,080 | $191,067 | $-4,012 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $142,110 keeps most of its value at $139,187 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Engineers, All Other salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #5 out of 50 states for Engineers, All Other after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Engineers, All Other in Virginia earns a median salary of $142,110 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $139,187 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (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 Engineers, All Other in Virginia: $142,110 x (100 / 102.1) = $139,187. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Engineers, All Other's nominal salary of $142,110 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $139,187. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.