What does a Protective Service Workers, All Other salary really buy you in California?
California is 12.5% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
California's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 112.5, meaning prices are 12.5% higher the national average. A Protective Service Workers, All Other earning $39,690 in California has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,280 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for California's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $35,400 | $31,466 | $-3,933 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,250 | $33,111 | $-4,138 |
| Median (P50) | $39,690 | $35,280 | $-4,410 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,730 | $43,315 | $-5,414 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $65,910 | $58,586 | $-7,323 |
While $39,690 sounds high, California's elevated cost of living erases 11% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $35,280. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Protective Service Workers, All Other salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
California ranks #47 out of 50 states for Protective Service Workers, All Other after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Protective Service Workers, All Other in California earns a median salary of $39,690 per year. After adjusting for California's cost of living (RPP=112.5), the real purchasing power is $35,280 — a -11.1% difference.
California's cost of living is 12.5% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for California is 112.5 (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 Protective Service Workers, All Other in California: $39,690 x (100 / 112.5) = $35,280. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Protective Service Workers, All Other's nominal salary of $39,690 in California has 11.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $35,280. However, California may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.