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What does a Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earning $92,760 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $88,595 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $46,460 | $44,374 | $-2,085 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $63,160 | $60,324 | $-2,835 |
| Median (P50) | $92,760 | $88,595 | $-4,164 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $95,610 | $91,318 | $-4,291 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $99,150 | $94,699 | $-4,450 |
While $92,760 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $88,595. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Rhode Island's RPP of 104.7 puts it 4.7% above the national baseline cost of living. A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Rhode Island's RPP, the $92,760 median salary translates to $88,596 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, Rhode Island places #2 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #2 out of 51 states for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $92,760 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $88,595 — a -4.5% difference.
Rhode Island's cost of living is 4.7% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Rhode Island is 104.7 (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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Rhode Island: $92,760 x (100 / 104.7) = $88,595. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education's nominal salary of $92,760 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $88,595. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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