What does a Lighting Technicians salary really buy you in Colorado?
Colorado is 2.3% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.3, meaning prices are 2.3% higher the national average. A Lighting Technicians earning $83,580 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $81,700 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,140 | $44,125 | $-1,014 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,830 | $50,664 | $-1,165 |
| Median (P50) | $83,580 | $81,700 | $-1,879 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $88,770 | $86,774 | $-1,995 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $120,620 | $117,908 | $-2,711 |
Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $83,580 keeps most of its value at $81,700 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Lighting Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Colorado ranks #3 out of 29 states for Lighting Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Lighting Technicians in Colorado earns a median salary of $83,580 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $81,700 — a -2.2% difference.
Colorado's cost of living is 2.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Colorado is 102.3 (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 Lighting Technicians in Colorado: $83,580 x (100 / 102.3) = $81,700. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Lighting Technicians's nominal salary of $83,580 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $81,700. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.