What does a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary really buy you in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is 4.7% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Rhode Island's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 104.7, meaning prices are 4.7% higher the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School earning $89,460 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $85,444 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) | $51,400 | $49,092 | $-2,307 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $66,870 | $63,868 | $-3,001 |
| Median (P50) | $89,460 | $85,444 | $-4,015 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $93,740 | $89,531 | $-4,208 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,410 | $93,992 | $-4,417 |
While $89,460 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $85,444. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #3 out of 50 states for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $89,460 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $85,444 — 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, Secondary School in Rhode Island: $89,460 x (100 / 104.7) = $85,444. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School's nominal salary of $89,460 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $85,444. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.