What does a Waiters and Waitresses salary really buy you in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is 11.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Oklahoma's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.8, meaning prices are 11.2% lower the national average. A Waiters and Waitresses earning $19,890 in Oklahoma has the equivalent purchasing power of $22,398 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Oklahoma's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $16,190 | $18,231 | +$2,041 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $17,250 | $19,425 | +$2,175 |
| Median (P50) | $19,890 | $22,398 | +$2,508 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $29,140 | $32,815 | +$3,675 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,030 | $52,961 | +$5,931 |
A Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma earns $19,890 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $22,398 in an average-cost state. This makes Oklahoma one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Waiters and Waitresses salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Oklahoma ranks #47 out of 50 states for Waiters and Waitresses after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma earns a median salary of $19,890 per year. After adjusting for Oklahoma's cost of living (RPP=88.8), the real purchasing power is $22,398 — a +12.6% difference.
Oklahoma's cost of living is 11.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Oklahoma is 88.8 (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 Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma: $19,890 x (100 / 88.8) = $22,398. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Waiters and Waitresses in Oklahoma enjoys 12.6% 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.