What does a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary really buy you in West Virginia?
West Virginia is 10.8% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
West Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.2, meaning prices are 10.8% lower the national average. A Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earning $56,480 in West Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $63,318 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for West Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,310 | $50,795 | +$5,485 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $47,350 | $53,082 | +$5,732 |
| Median (P50) | $56,480 | $63,318 | +$6,838 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $59,850 | $67,096 | +$7,246 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,500 | $70,067 | +$7,567 |
A Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in West Virginia earns $56,480 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $63,318 in an average-cost state. This makes West Virginia one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
West Virginia ranks #38 out of 50 states for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in West Virginia earns a median salary of $56,480 per year. After adjusting for West Virginia's cost of living (RPP=89.2), the real purchasing power is $63,318 — a +12.1% difference.
West Virginia's cost of living is 10.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for West Virginia is 89.2 (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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in West Virginia: $56,480 x (100 / 89.2) = $63,318. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in West Virginia enjoys 12.1% 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.