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What does a Respiratory Therapists salary really buy you in Mississippi?
Mississippi is 12.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Mississippi's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 87.3, meaning prices are 12.7% lower the national average. A Respiratory Therapists earning $63,270 in Mississippi has the equivalent purchasing power of $72,474 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $50,180 | $57,479 | +$7,299 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,150 | $65,463 | +$8,313 |
| Median (P50) | $63,270 | $72,474 | +$9,204 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $75,850 | $86,884 | +$11,034 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $80,460 | $92,164 | +$11,704 |
A Respiratory Therapists in Mississippi earns $63,270 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $72,474 in an average-cost state. This makes Mississippi one of the best value states for this occupation.
Mississippi's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 87.3 means a basket of goods and services costs about 12.7% less than the national average. For a Respiratory Therapists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $63,270 for Mississippi's cost of living yields $72,474 — a 14.5% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Mississippi ranks #51 of 51 — bottom quartile for Respiratory Therapists real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Respiratory Therapists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Mississippi ranks #51 out of 51 states for Respiratory Therapists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Respiratory Therapists take-home pay in Mississippi after taxes →
A Respiratory Therapists in Mississippi earns a median salary of $63,270 per year. After adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (RPP=87.3), the real purchasing power is $72,474 — a +14.5% difference.
Mississippi's cost of living is 12.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Mississippi is 87.3 (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 Mississippi: $63,270 x (100 / 87.3) = $72,474. 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 Mississippi enjoys 14.5% 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.
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