What does a Astronomers salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Astronomers earning $157,980 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $150,457 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $79,630 | $75,838 | $-3,791 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $130,750 | $124,523 | $-6,226 |
| Median (P50) | $157,980 | $150,457 | $-7,522 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $185,810 | $176,961 | $-8,848 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $191,880 | $182,742 | $-9,137 |
While $157,980 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $150,457. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Astronomers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Maryland ranks #2 out of 6 states for Astronomers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Astronomers in Maryland earns a median salary of $157,980 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $150,457 — a -4.8% difference.
Maryland's cost of living is 5.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maryland is 105.0 (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 Astronomers in Maryland: $157,980 x (100 / 105.0) = $150,457. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Astronomers's nominal salary of $157,980 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $150,457. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.