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What does a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary really buy you in New York?
New York is 7.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
New York's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 107.6, meaning prices are 7.6% higher the national average. A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earning $82,640 in New York has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,802 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New York's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $58,240 | $54,126 | $-4,113 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $69,240 | $64,349 | $-4,890 |
| Median (P50) | $82,640 | $76,802 | $-5,837 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $99,100 | $92,100 | $-6,999 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $117,860 | $109,535 | $-8,324 |
While $82,640 sounds high, New York's elevated cost of living erases 7% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $76,802. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
New York's RPP of 107.6 puts it 7.6% above the national baseline cost of living. A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying New York's RPP, the $82,640 median salary translates to $76,803 in real terms — a 7.1% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists.
New York's rank of #25 of 47 states means real purchasing power for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists trails the national half-way line.
Where does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New York ranks #25 out of 47 states for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists take-home pay in New York after taxes →
A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New York earns a median salary of $82,640 per year. After adjusting for New York's cost of living (RPP=107.6), the real purchasing power is $76,802 — a -7.1% difference.
New York's cost of living is 7.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New York is 107.6 (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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in New York: $82,640 x (100 / 107.6) = $76,802. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists's nominal salary of $82,640 in New York has 7.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $76,802. However, New York may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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