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What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Nebraska?
Nebraska is 10.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Nebraska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.8, meaning prices are 10.2% lower the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $98,270 in Nebraska has the equivalent purchasing power of $109,432 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) | $57,030 | $63,507 | +$6,477 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $76,740 | $85,456 | +$8,716 |
| Median (P50) | $98,270 | $109,432 | +$11,162 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $127,960 | $142,494 | +$14,534 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $135,400 | $150,779 | +$15,379 |
A Materials Engineers in Nebraska earns $98,270 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $109,432 in an average-cost state. This makes Nebraska one of the best value states for this occupation.
Nebraska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 89.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.2% less than the national average. For a Materials Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $98,270 for Nebraska's cost of living yields $109,432 — a 11.4% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Nebraska's rank of #27 of 45 states means real purchasing power for Materials Engineers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Materials Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Nebraska ranks #27 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 Nebraska after taxes →
A Materials Engineers in Nebraska earns a median salary of $98,270 per year. After adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (RPP=89.8), the real purchasing power is $109,432 — 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: $98,270 x (100 / 89.8) = $109,432. 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.
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