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What does a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earning $64,700 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,479 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $46,830 | $51,013 | +$4,183 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $52,580 | $57,276 | +$4,696 |
| Median (P50) | $64,700 | $70,479 | +$5,779 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $94,910 | $103,387 | +$8,477 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $124,380 | $135,490 | +$11,110 |
A Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Indiana earns $64,700 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $70,479 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Indiana's RPP, the $64,700 median salary translates to $70,479 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health.
Indiana ranks #45 of 51 — bottom quartile for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #45 out of 51 states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health take-home pay in Indiana after taxes →
A Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Indiana earns a median salary of $64,700 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $70,479 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (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 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Indiana: $64,700 x (100 / 91.8) = $70,479. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Indiana enjoys 8.9% 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.
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