What does a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining earning $56,640 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,097 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) | $43,530 | $41,575 | $-1,954 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,430 | $48,166 | $-2,263 |
| Median (P50) | $56,640 | $54,097 | $-2,542 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,710 | $58,939 | $-2,770 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $76,850 | $73,400 | $-3,449 |
While $56,640 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $54,097. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #27 out of 50 states for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $56,640 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $54,097 — 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 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Rhode Island: $56,640 x (100 / 104.7) = $54,097. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining's nominal salary of $56,640 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $54,097. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.