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What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $140,640 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $133,942 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $79,470 | $75,685 | $-3,784 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $109,970 | $104,733 | $-5,236 |
| Median (P50) | $140,640 | $133,942 | $-6,697 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $173,720 | $165,447 | $-8,272 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $195,190 | $185,895 | $-9,294 |
While $140,640 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $133,942. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Maryland's RPP of 105.0 puts it 5.0% above the national baseline cost of living. A Materials Engineers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Maryland's RPP, the $140,640 median salary translates to $133,943 in real terms — a 4.8% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Materials Engineers.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Materials Engineers, Maryland places #4 of 45 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Materials Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Maryland ranks #4 out of 45 states for Materials Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Materials Engineers take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →
A Materials Engineers in Maryland earns a median salary of $140,640 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $133,942 — 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 Materials Engineers in Maryland: $140,640 x (100 / 105.0) = $133,942. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Materials Engineers's nominal salary of $140,640 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $133,942. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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