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What does a Forensic Science Technicians salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Forensic Science Technicians earning $66,780 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,666 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $48,410 | $51,227 | +$2,817 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $55,530 | $58,761 | +$3,231 |
| Median (P50) | $66,780 | $70,666 | +$3,886 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $81,900 | $86,666 | +$4,766 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $94,490 | $99,989 | +$5,499 |
A Forensic Science Technicians in Utah earns $66,780 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $70,666 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 94.5, Utah is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Forensic Science Technicians is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After applying Utah's RPP, the $66,780 median salary translates to $70,667 in real terms — a 5.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Forensic Science Technicians.
Utah's rank of #24 of 41 states means real purchasing power for Forensic Science Technicians trails the national half-way line.
Where does Forensic Science Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #24 out of 41 states for Forensic Science Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Forensic Science Technicians take-home pay in Utah after taxes →
A Forensic Science Technicians in Utah earns a median salary of $66,780 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $70,666 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (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 Forensic Science Technicians in Utah: $66,780 x (100 / 94.5) = $70,666. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Forensic Science Technicians in Utah enjoys 5.8% 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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