What does a Biochemists and Biophysicists salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Biochemists and Biophysicists earning $127,520 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $116,563 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $74,550 | $68,144 | $-6,405 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $86,720 | $79,268 | $-7,451 |
| Median (P50) | $127,520 | $116,563 | $-10,956 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $138,920 | $126,983 | $-11,936 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $169,810 | $155,219 | $-14,590 |
While $127,520 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $116,563. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Biochemists and Biophysicists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #4 out of 31 states for Biochemists and Biophysicists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Biochemists and Biophysicists in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $127,520 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $116,563 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (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 Biochemists and Biophysicists in Massachusetts: $127,520 x (100 / 109.4) = $116,563. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Biochemists and Biophysicists's nominal salary of $127,520 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $116,563. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.