What does a Ship Engineers salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Ship Engineers earning $96,390 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $87,786 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $62,060 | $56,520 | $-5,539 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $80,900 | $73,679 | $-7,220 |
| Median (P50) | $96,390 | $87,786 | $-8,603 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $118,470 | $107,896 | $-10,573 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $150,570 | $137,131 | $-13,438 |
While $96,390 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $87,786. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Ship Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #18 out of 24 states for Ship Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Ship Engineers in Washington earns a median salary of $96,390 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $87,786 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (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 Ship Engineers in Washington: $96,390 x (100 / 109.8) = $87,786. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Ship Engineers's nominal salary of $96,390 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $87,786. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.