What does a Optometrists salary really buy you in Mississippi?
Mississippi is 12.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Mississippi's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 87.3, meaning prices are 12.7% lower the national average. A Optometrists earning $107,600 in Mississippi has the equivalent purchasing power of $123,253 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $58,860 | $67,422 | +$8,562 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $87,080 | $99,747 | +$12,667 |
| Median (P50) | $107,600 | $123,253 | +$15,653 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $147,700 | $169,186 | +$21,486 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $227,540 | $260,641 | +$33,101 |
A Optometrists in Mississippi earns $107,600 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $123,253 in an average-cost state. This makes Mississippi 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.
Mississippi ranks #40 out of 49 states for Optometrists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Optometrists in Mississippi earns a median salary of $107,600 per year. After adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (RPP=87.3), the real purchasing power is $123,253 — a +14.5% difference.
Mississippi's cost of living is 12.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Mississippi is 87.3 (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 Optometrists in Mississippi: $107,600 x (100 / 87.3) = $123,253. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Optometrists in Mississippi enjoys 14.5% 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.