What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Mississippi?
Mississippi is 12.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Mississippi's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 87.3, meaning prices are 12.7% lower the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $90,700 in Mississippi has the equivalent purchasing power of $103,894 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $55,480 | $63,550 | +$8,070 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $76,490 | $87,617 | +$11,127 |
| Median (P50) | $90,700 | $103,894 | +$13,194 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $127,480 | $146,025 | +$18,545 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $151,720 | $173,791 | +$22,071 |
A Materials Engineers in Mississippi earns $90,700 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 15% further — like earning $103,894 in an average-cost state. This makes Mississippi one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Materials Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Mississippi ranks #30 out of 46 states for Materials Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Materials Engineers in Mississippi earns a median salary of $90,700 per year. After adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (RPP=87.3), the real purchasing power is $103,894 — a +14.5% difference.
Mississippi's cost of living is 12.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Mississippi is 87.3 (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 Mississippi: $90,700 x (100 / 87.3) = $103,894. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Materials Engineers in Mississippi enjoys 14.5% 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.