What does a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary earning $99,700 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $95,224 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) | $61,170 | $58,424 | $-2,745 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $76,980 | $73,524 | $-3,455 |
| Median (P50) | $99,700 | $95,224 | $-4,475 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $124,900 | $119,293 | $-5,606 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $158,710 | $151,585 | $-7,124 |
While $99,700 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $95,224. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #13 out of 43 states for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $99,700 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $95,224 — 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 Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Rhode Island: $99,700 x (100 / 104.7) = $95,224. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary's nominal salary of $99,700 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $95,224. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.