What does a Recreational Therapists salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Recreational Therapists earning $51,930 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,568 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $44,340 | $48,300 | +$3,960 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,280 | $52,592 | +$4,312 |
| Median (P50) | $51,930 | $56,568 | +$4,638 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,130 | $67,679 | +$5,549 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $72,040 | $78,474 | +$6,434 |
A Recreational Therapists in Indiana earns $51,930 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $56,568 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Recreational Therapists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #25 out of 45 states for Recreational Therapists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Recreational Therapists in Indiana earns a median salary of $51,930 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $56,568 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (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 Recreational Therapists in Indiana: $51,930 x (100 / 91.8) = $56,568. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Recreational Therapists in Indiana enjoys 8.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.