What does a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary really buy you in Missouri?
Missouri is 8.9% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Missouri's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.1, meaning prices are 8.9% lower the national average. A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary earning $84,890 in Missouri has the equivalent purchasing power of $93,183 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $50,390 | $55,312 | +$4,922 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $66,320 | $72,799 | +$6,479 |
| Median (P50) | $84,890 | $93,183 | +$8,293 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $107,010 | $117,464 | +$10,454 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $144,320 | $158,419 | +$14,099 |
A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Missouri earns $84,890 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $93,183 in an average-cost state. This makes Missouri one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Missouri ranks #24 out of 44 states for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Missouri earns a median salary of $84,890 per year. After adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (RPP=91.1), the real purchasing power is $93,183 — a +9.8% difference.
Missouri's cost of living is 8.9% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Missouri is 91.1 (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 Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Missouri: $84,890 x (100 / 91.1) = $93,183. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Missouri enjoys 9.8% 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.