What does a Optometrists salary really buy you in Kansas?
Kansas is 10.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.0, meaning prices are 10.0% lower the national average. A Optometrists earning $128,510 in Kansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $142,788 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $94,990 | $105,544 | +$10,554 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $101,980 | $113,311 | +$11,331 |
| Median (P50) | $128,510 | $142,788 | +$14,278 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $150,010 | $166,677 | +$16,667 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $212,900 | $236,555 | +$23,655 |
A Optometrists in Kansas earns $128,510 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $142,788 in an average-cost state. This makes Kansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Optometrists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kansas ranks #17 out of 49 states for Optometrists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Optometrists in Kansas earns a median salary of $128,510 per year. After adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (RPP=90.0), the real purchasing power is $142,788 — a +11.1% difference.
Kansas's cost of living is 10.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kansas is 90.0 (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 Optometrists in Kansas: $128,510 x (100 / 90.0) = $142,788. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Optometrists in Kansas enjoys 11.1% 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.