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What does a Locomotive Engineers salary really buy you in Wyoming?
Wyoming is 8.1% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Wyoming's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.9, meaning prices are 8.1% lower the national average. A Locomotive Engineers earning $78,910 in Wyoming has the equivalent purchasing power of $85,865 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wyoming's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $63,440 | $69,031 | +$5,591 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,910 | $85,865 | +$6,955 |
| Median (P50) | $78,910 | $85,865 | +$6,955 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $105,080 | $114,341 | +$9,261 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $105,080 | $114,341 | +$9,261 |
A Locomotive Engineers in Wyoming earns $78,910 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $85,865 in an average-cost state. This makes Wyoming one of the best value states for this occupation.
Wyoming's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.9 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.1% less than the national average. For a Locomotive Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Wyoming's RPP, the $78,910 median salary translates to $85,865 in real terms — a 8.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Locomotive Engineers.
Wyoming's rank of #22 of 35 states means real purchasing power for Locomotive Engineers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Locomotive Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wyoming ranks #22 out of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Locomotive Engineers take-home pay in Wyoming after taxes →
A Locomotive Engineers in Wyoming earns a median salary of $78,910 per year. After adjusting for Wyoming's cost of living (RPP=91.9), the real purchasing power is $85,865 — a +8.8% difference.
Wyoming's cost of living is 8.1% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wyoming is 91.9 (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 Locomotive Engineers in Wyoming: $78,910 x (100 / 91.9) = $85,865. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Locomotive Engineers in Wyoming enjoys 8.8% 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.
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