What does a Computer Hardware Engineers salary really buy you in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is 3.8% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Pennsylvania's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 96.2, meaning prices are 3.8% lower the national average. A Computer Hardware Engineers earning $131,660 in Pennsylvania has the equivalent purchasing power of $136,860 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $82,230 | $85,478 | +$3,248 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $105,450 | $109,615 | +$4,165 |
| Median (P50) | $131,660 | $136,860 | +$5,200 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $163,040 | $169,480 | +$6,440 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $200,670 | $208,596 | +$7,926 |
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Pennsylvania earns $131,660 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 4% further — like earning $136,860 in an average-cost state. This makes Pennsylvania one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Computer Hardware Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Pennsylvania ranks #15 out of 43 states for Computer Hardware Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Computer Hardware Engineers in Pennsylvania earns a median salary of $131,660 per year. After adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (RPP=96.2), the real purchasing power is $136,860 — a +4.0% difference.
Pennsylvania's cost of living is 3.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Pennsylvania is 96.2 (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 Computer Hardware Engineers in Pennsylvania: $131,660 x (100 / 96.2) = $136,860. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Computer Hardware Engineers in Pennsylvania enjoys 4.0% 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.