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Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Colorado: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary really buy you in Colorado?

Colorado is 2.3% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$35,760
Median annual (2025)
-2.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$34,956
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.3)

Colorado Cost of Living Index

Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.3, meaning prices are 2.3% higher the national average. A Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary earning $35,760 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,956 in an average-cost US state.

CO: 102.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $30,800 $30,107 $-692
25th Percentile (P25) $30,800 $30,107 $-692
Median (P50) $35,760 $34,956 $-803
75th Percentile (P75) $43,900 $42,913 $-986
90th Percentile (P90) $48,470 $47,380 $-1,089
Key Insight

Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $35,760 keeps most of its value at $34,956 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Colorado Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.3

With an RPP of 102.3, Colorado is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.2%

After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living, $35,760 nominal nets out to $34,956 in real purchasing power — a small 2.2% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#32 / 51

Colorado's rank of #32 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary (After Cost of Living)

Where does Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Maine
$46,378
RPP 100.8
$44,735
RPP 109.8
3. Vermont
$43,323
RPP 101.1
$43,111
RPP 88.7
$41,324
RPP 112.5
$41,044
RPP 97.7
$40,953
RPP 92.3
$40,240
RPP 116.6
$39,846
RPP 91.1
$39,450
RPP 91.0

Colorado ranks #32 out of 51 states for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary take-home pay in Colorado after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in Colorado after cost of living?

A Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in Colorado earns a median salary of $35,760 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $34,956 — a -2.2% difference.

Is Colorado expensive to live in?

Colorado's cost of living is 2.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Colorado is 102.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in Colorado: $35,760 x (100 / 102.3) = $34,956. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Colorado offset the salary?

Partially — a Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary's nominal salary of $35,760 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $34,956. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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