What does a Political Scientists salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Political Scientists earning $150,010 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $142,866 in an average-cost US state.
While $150,010 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $142,866. 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.
Maryland ranks #2 out of 13 states for Political Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Political Scientists take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →
A Political Scientists in Maryland earns a median salary of $150,010 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $142,866 — 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 Political Scientists in Maryland: $150,010 x (100 / 105.0) = $142,866. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Political Scientists's nominal salary of $150,010 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $142,866. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.