What does a Legislators salary really buy you in Missouri?
Missouri is 8.9% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.1, meaning prices are 8.9% lower the national average. A Legislators earning $45,120 in Missouri has the equivalent purchasing power of $49,527 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $24,960 | $27,398 | +$2,438 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $30,300 | $33,260 | +$2,960 |
| Median (P50) | $45,120 | $49,527 | +$4,407 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $70,680 | $77,585 | +$6,905 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $95,970 | $105,345 | +$9,375 |
A Legislators in Missouri earns $45,120 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $49,527 in an average-cost state. This makes Missouri one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Legislators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Missouri ranks #21 out of 39 states for Legislators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Legislators take-home pay in Missouri after taxes →
A Legislators in Missouri earns a median salary of $45,120 per year. After adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (RPP=91.1), the real purchasing power is $49,527 — a +9.8% difference.
Missouri's cost of living is 8.9% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Missouri is 91.1 (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 Legislators in Missouri: $45,120 x (100 / 91.1) = $49,527. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Legislators in Missouri enjoys 9.8% 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.