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What does a Social Science Research Assistants salary really buy you in Kansas?
Kansas is 10.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.0, meaning prices are 10.0% lower the national average. A Social Science Research Assistants earning $67,740 in Kansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $75,266 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $43,140 | $47,933 | +$4,793 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $54,970 | $61,077 | +$6,107 |
| Median (P50) | $67,740 | $75,266 | +$7,526 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $67,740 | $75,266 | +$7,526 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $67,740 | $75,266 | +$7,526 |
A Social Science Research Assistants in Kansas earns $67,740 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $75,266 in an average-cost state. This makes Kansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 90.0 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.0% less than the national average. For a Social Science Research Assistants, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $67,740 for Kansas's cost of living yields $75,267 — a 11.1% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Social Science Research Assistants, Kansas places #2 of 45 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Social Science Research Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kansas ranks #2 out of 45 states for Social Science Research Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Social Science Research Assistants take-home pay in Kansas after taxes →
A Social Science Research Assistants in Kansas earns a median salary of $67,740 per year. After adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (RPP=90.0), the real purchasing power is $75,266 — a +11.1% difference.
Kansas's cost of living is 10.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kansas is 90.0 (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 Social Science Research Assistants in Kansas: $67,740 x (100 / 90.0) = $75,266. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Social Science Research Assistants in Kansas enjoys 11.1% 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.
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