What does a Soil and Plant Scientists salary really buy you in Michigan?
Michigan is 6.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Michigan's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 93.4, meaning prices are 6.6% lower the national average. A Soil and Plant Scientists earning $61,660 in Michigan has the equivalent purchasing power of $66,017 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $48,980 | $52,441 | +$3,461 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $54,030 | $57,847 | +$3,817 |
| Median (P50) | $61,660 | $66,017 | +$4,357 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,030 | $66,413 | +$4,383 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $87,110 | $93,265 | +$6,155 |
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Michigan earns $61,660 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $66,017 in an average-cost state. This makes Michigan one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Soil and Plant Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Michigan ranks #35 out of 49 states for Soil and Plant Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Soil and Plant Scientists take-home pay in Michigan after taxes →
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Michigan earns a median salary of $61,660 per year. After adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (RPP=93.4), the real purchasing power is $66,017 — a +7.1% difference.
Michigan's cost of living is 6.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Michigan is 93.4 (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 Soil and Plant Scientists in Michigan: $61,660 x (100 / 93.4) = $66,017. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Soil and Plant Scientists in Michigan enjoys 7.1% 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.