What does a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earning $61,440 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $58,681 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) | $44,920 | $42,903 | $-2,016 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,530 | $54,947 | $-2,582 |
| Median (P50) | $61,440 | $58,681 | $-2,758 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,460 | $61,566 | $-2,893 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $83,190 | $79,455 | $-3,734 |
While $61,440 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $58,681. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #21 out of 49 states for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $61,440 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $58,681 — 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 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Rhode Island: $61,440 x (100 / 104.7) = $58,681. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators's nominal salary of $61,440 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $58,681. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.