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What does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earning $36,420 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,673 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $29,580 | $32,222 | +$2,642 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $32,340 | $35,228 | +$2,888 |
| Median (P50) | $36,420 | $39,673 | +$3,253 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $38,470 | $41,906 | +$3,436 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $44,780 | $48,779 | +$3,999 |
A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Indiana earns $36,420 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $39,673 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Indiana's RPP, the $36,420 median salary translates to $39,673 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.
Indiana's rank of #28 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #28 out of 51 states for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers take-home pay in Indiana after taxes →
A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Indiana earns a median salary of $36,420 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $39,673 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (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 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Indiana: $36,420 x (100 / 91.8) = $39,673. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Indiana enjoys 8.9% 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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