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What does a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School earning $84,300 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $80,515 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $60,420 | $57,707 | $-2,712 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $62,170 | $59,379 | $-2,790 |
| Median (P50) | $84,300 | $80,515 | $-3,784 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $95,000 | $90,735 | $-4,264 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,170 | $93,763 | $-4,406 |
While $84,300 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $80,515. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Rhode Island's RPP of 104.7 puts it 4.7% above the national baseline cost of living. A Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Rhode Island's RPP, the $84,300 median salary translates to $80,516 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School, Rhode Island places #7 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #7 out of 51 states for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $84,300 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $80,515 — a -4.5% difference.
Rhode Island's cost of living is 4.7% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Rhode Island is 104.7 (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 Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Rhode Island: $84,300 x (100 / 104.7) = $80,515. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School's nominal salary of $84,300 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $80,515. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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