What does a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 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 2026-04-02
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earning $75,580 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $72,187 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) | $47,840 | $45,692 | $-2,147 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $55,180 | $52,702 | $-2,477 |
| Median (P50) | $75,580 | $72,187 | $-3,392 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $80,000 | $76,408 | $-3,591 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $101,780 | $97,211 | $-4,568 |
While $75,580 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $72,187. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #11 out of 51 states for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $75,580 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $72,187 — 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 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Rhode Island: $75,580 x (100 / 104.7) = $72,187. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters's nominal salary of $75,580 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $72,187. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.