What does a Medical Assistant salary really buy you in Minnesota?
Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Medical Assistant earning $49,380 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $50,542 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $39,560 | $40,491 | +$931 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,270 | $47,359 | +$1,089 |
| Median (P50) | $49,380 | $50,542 | +$1,162 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $55,080 | $56,376 | +$1,296 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $58,910 | $60,296 | +$1,386 |
Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $49,380 keeps most of its value at $50,542 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Medical Assistant salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Minnesota ranks #4 out of 50 states for Medical Assistant after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Medical Assistant in Minnesota earns a median salary of $49,380 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $50,542 — a +2.4% difference.
Minnesota's cost of living is 2.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Minnesota is 97.7 (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 Medical Assistant in Minnesota: $49,380 x (100 / 97.7) = $50,542. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Medical Assistant in Minnesota enjoys 2.4% 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.