What does a Power Plant Operators salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Power Plant Operators earning $78,460 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,846 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $52,200 | $51,126 | $-1,073 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,700 | $63,369 | $-1,330 |
| Median (P50) | $78,460 | $76,846 | $-1,613 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $92,530 | $90,626 | $-1,903 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $105,420 | $103,251 | $-2,168 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $78,460 keeps most of its value at $76,846 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Power Plant Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #49 out of 50 states for Power Plant Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Power Plant Operators in Virginia earns a median salary of $78,460 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $76,846 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (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 Power Plant Operators in Virginia: $78,460 x (100 / 102.1) = $76,846. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Power Plant Operators's nominal salary of $78,460 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $76,846. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.