What does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary really buy you in Florida?
Florida is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Florida's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earning $37,200 in Florida has the equivalent purchasing power of $36,434 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Florida's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $29,350 | $28,746 | $-603 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $33,140 | $32,458 | $-681 |
| Median (P50) | $37,200 | $36,434 | $-765 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $39,900 | $39,079 | $-820 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $45,650 | $44,711 | $-938 |
Florida's cost of living is close to the national average, so $37,200 keeps most of its value at $36,434 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Florida ranks #38 out of 50 states for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida earns a median salary of $37,200 per year. After adjusting for Florida's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $36,434 — a -2.1% difference.
Florida's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Florida is 102.1 (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 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Florida: $37,200 x (100 / 102.1) = $36,434. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers's nominal salary of $37,200 in Florida has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $36,434. However, Florida may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.