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What does a Surgical Assistants salary really buy you in Nebraska?
Nebraska is 10.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Nebraska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.8, meaning prices are 10.2% lower the national average. A Surgical Assistants earning $53,190 in Nebraska has the equivalent purchasing power of $59,231 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $40,460 | $45,055 | +$4,595 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $47,010 | $52,349 | +$5,339 |
| Median (P50) | $53,190 | $59,231 | +$6,041 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $75,410 | $83,975 | +$8,565 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $82,780 | $92,182 | +$9,402 |
A Surgical Assistants in Nebraska earns $53,190 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $59,231 in an average-cost state. This makes Nebraska one of the best value states for this occupation.
Nebraska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 89.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.2% less than the national average. For a Surgical Assistants, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $53,190 for Nebraska's cost of living yields $59,232 — a 11.4% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Nebraska's rank of #30 of 44 states means real purchasing power for Surgical Assistants trails the national half-way line.
Where does Surgical Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Nebraska ranks #30 out of 44 states for Surgical Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Surgical Assistants take-home pay in Nebraska after taxes →
A Surgical Assistants in Nebraska earns a median salary of $53,190 per year. After adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (RPP=89.8), the real purchasing power is $59,231 — a +11.4% difference.
Nebraska's cost of living is 10.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Nebraska is 89.8 (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 Surgical Assistants in Nebraska: $53,190 x (100 / 89.8) = $59,231. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Surgical Assistants in Nebraska enjoys 11.4% 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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