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What does a Electrical Engineers salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Electrical Engineers earning $127,720 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $116,745 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) | $78,140 | $71,425 | $-6,714 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $100,010 | $91,416 | $-8,593 |
| Median (P50) | $127,720 | $116,745 | $-10,974 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $160,910 | $147,084 | $-13,825 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $176,470 | $161,307 | $-15,162 |
While $127,720 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $116,745. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Massachusetts's RPP of 109.4 puts it 9.4% above the national baseline cost of living. A Electrical Engineers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Massachusetts's RPP, the $127,720 median salary translates to $116,746 in real terms — a 8.6% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Electrical Engineers.
Massachusetts sits at #24 of 49 states for Electrical Engineers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Electrical Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #24 out of 49 states for Electrical Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Electrical Engineers take-home pay in Massachusetts after taxes →
A Electrical Engineers in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $127,720 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $116,745 — 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 Electrical Engineers in Massachusetts: $127,720 x (100 / 109.4) = $116,745. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Electrical Engineers's nominal salary of $127,720 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $116,745. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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