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What does a Structural Iron and Steel Workers 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 Structural Iron and Steel Workers earning $98,320 in Rhode Island has the equivalent purchasing power of $93,906 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) | $65,500 | $62,559 | $-2,940 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $84,700 | $80,897 | $-3,802 |
| Median (P50) | $98,320 | $93,906 | $-4,413 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $98,320 | $93,906 | $-4,413 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,330 | $93,915 | $-4,414 |
While $98,320 sounds high, Rhode Island's elevated cost of living erases 4% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $93,906. 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 Structural Iron and Steel Workers 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 $98,320 median salary translates to $93,906 in real terms — a 4.5% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Structural Iron and Steel Workers.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Structural Iron and Steel Workers, Rhode Island places #7 of 50 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Rhode Island ranks #7 out of 50 states for Structural Iron and Steel Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Structural Iron and Steel Workers take-home pay in Rhode Island after taxes →
A Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $98,320 per year. After adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (RPP=104.7), the real purchasing power is $93,906 — 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 Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Rhode Island: $98,320 x (100 / 104.7) = $93,906. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Structural Iron and Steel Workers's nominal salary of $98,320 in Rhode Island has 4.5% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $93,906. However, Rhode Island may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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