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What does a Psychiatric Aides salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Psychiatric Aides earning $51,100 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $48,806 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) | $43,040 | $41,107 | $-1,932 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $44,810 | $42,798 | $-2,011 |
| Median (P50) | $51,100 | $48,806 | $-2,293 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $51,100 | $48,806 | $-2,293 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,530 | $59,723 | $-2,806 |
While $51,100 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $48,806. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Rhode Island's RPP of 104.7 puts it 4.7% above the national baseline cost of living. A Psychiatric Aides needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Rhode Island's RPP, the $51,100 median salary translates to $48,806 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Psychiatric Aides.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Psychiatric Aides, Rhode Island places #8 of 39 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Psychiatric Aides salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #8 out of 39 states for Psychiatric Aides after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Psychiatric Aides take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Psychiatric Aides in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $51,100 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $48,806 — 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 Psychiatric Aides in Rhode Island: $51,100 x (100 / 104.7) = $48,806. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Psychiatric Aides's nominal salary of $51,100 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $48,806. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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