What does a Respiratory Therapists salary really buy you in Delaware?
Delaware is 2.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Delaware's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 98.0, meaning prices are 2.0% lower the national average. A Respiratory Therapists earning $83,820 in Delaware has the equivalent purchasing power of $85,530 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Delaware's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $67,870 | $69,255 | +$1,385 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $79,610 | $81,234 | +$1,624 |
| Median (P50) | $83,820 | $85,530 | +$1,710 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $98,160 | $100,163 | +$2,003 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $102,080 | $104,163 | +$2,083 |
Delaware's cost of living is close to the national average, so $83,820 keeps most of its value at $85,530 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Respiratory Therapists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Delaware ranks #8 out of 51 states for Respiratory Therapists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Respiratory Therapists take-home pay in Delaware after taxes →
A Respiratory Therapists in Delaware earns a median salary of $83,820 per year. After adjusting for Delaware's cost of living (RPP=98.0), the real purchasing power is $85,530 — a +2.0% difference.
Delaware's cost of living is 2.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Delaware is 98.0 (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 Respiratory Therapists in Delaware: $83,820 x (100 / 98.0) = $85,530. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Respiratory Therapists in Delaware enjoys 2.0% 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.