What does a Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary really buy you in Kansas?
Kansas is 10.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.0, meaning prices are 10.0% lower the national average. A Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earning $34,470 in Kansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $38,300 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,520 | $35,022 | +$3,502 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $33,980 | $37,755 | +$3,775 |
| Median (P50) | $34,470 | $38,300 | +$3,830 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $35,400 | $39,333 | +$3,933 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $35,770 | $39,744 | +$3,974 |
A Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in Kansas earns $34,470 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $38,300 in an average-cost state. This makes Kansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kansas ranks #13 out of 25 states for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in Kansas earns a median salary of $34,470 per year. After adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (RPP=90.0), the real purchasing power is $38,300 — a +11.1% difference.
Kansas's cost of living is 10.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kansas is 90.0 (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 Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in Kansas: $34,470 x (100 / 90.0) = $38,300. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in Kansas enjoys 11.1% 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.