What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Nebraska?
Nebraska is 10.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Nebraska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.8, meaning prices are 10.2% lower the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $84,540 in Nebraska has the equivalent purchasing power of $94,142 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $56,600 | $63,028 | +$6,428 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $72,200 | $80,400 | +$8,200 |
| Median (P50) | $84,540 | $94,142 | +$9,602 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $104,760 | $116,659 | +$11,899 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $129,280 | $143,964 | +$14,684 |
A Materials Engineers in Nebraska earns $84,540 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $94,142 in an average-cost state. This makes Nebraska 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.
Nebraska ranks #39 out of 46 states for Materials Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Materials Engineers in Nebraska earns a median salary of $84,540 per year. After adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (RPP=89.8), the real purchasing power is $94,142 — a +11.4% difference.
Nebraska's cost of living is 10.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Nebraska is 89.8 (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 Materials Engineers in Nebraska: $84,540 x (100 / 89.8) = $94,142. 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 Nebraska enjoys 11.4% 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.