What does a Veterinarian salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Veterinarian earning $131,500 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $120,201 in an average-cost US state.
While $131,500 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $120,201. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Veterinarian salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #29 out of 47 states for Veterinarian after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Veterinarian in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $131,500 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $120,201 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (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 Veterinarian in Massachusetts: $131,500 x (100 / 109.4) = $120,201. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Veterinarian's nominal salary of $131,500 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $120,201. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.