What does a Political Scientists salary really buy you in California?
California is 12.5% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
California's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 112.5, meaning prices are 12.5% higher the national average. A Political Scientists earning $119,320 in California has the equivalent purchasing power of $106,062 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for California's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $75,590 | $67,191 | $-8,398 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $91,140 | $81,013 | $-10,126 |
| Median (P50) | $119,320 | $106,062 | $-13,257 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $139,030 | $123,582 | $-15,447 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $230,620 | $204,995 | $-25,624 |
While $119,320 sounds high, California's elevated cost of living erases 11% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $106,062. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Political Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
California ranks #8 out of 13 states for Political Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Political Scientists take-home pay in California after taxes →
A Political Scientists in California earns a median salary of $119,320 per year. After adjusting for California's cost of living (RPP=112.5), the real purchasing power is $106,062 — a -11.1% difference.
California's cost of living is 12.5% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for California is 112.5 (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 Political Scientists in California: $119,320 x (100 / 112.5) = $106,062. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Political Scientists's nominal salary of $119,320 in California has 11.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $106,062. However, California may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.