What does a Optometrists salary really buy you in Nebraska?
Nebraska is 10.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Nebraska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.8, meaning prices are 10.2% lower the national average. A Optometrists earning $116,850 in Nebraska has the equivalent purchasing power of $130,122 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $64,550 | $71,881 | +$7,331 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $75,510 | $84,086 | +$8,576 |
| Median (P50) | $116,850 | $130,122 | +$13,272 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $159,800 | $177,951 | +$18,151 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $191,760 | $213,541 | +$21,781 |
A Optometrists in Nebraska earns $116,850 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $130,122 in an average-cost state. This makes Nebraska 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.
Nebraska ranks #36 out of 49 states for Optometrists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Optometrists in Nebraska earns a median salary of $116,850 per year. After adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (RPP=89.8), the real purchasing power is $130,122 — a +11.4% difference.
Nebraska's cost of living is 10.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Nebraska is 89.8 (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 Nebraska: $116,850 x (100 / 89.8) = $130,122. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Optometrists in Nebraska enjoys 11.4% 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.