What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is 3.8% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Pennsylvania's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 96.2, meaning prices are 3.8% lower the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $89,160 in Pennsylvania has the equivalent purchasing power of $92,681 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $51,100 | $53,118 | +$2,018 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $68,370 | $71,070 | +$2,700 |
| Median (P50) | $89,160 | $92,681 | +$3,521 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $119,070 | $123,773 | +$4,703 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $149,710 | $155,623 | +$5,913 |
A Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania earns $89,160 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 4% further — like earning $92,681 in an average-cost state. This makes Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania ranks #40 out of 46 states for Materials Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania earns a median salary of $89,160 per year. After adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (RPP=96.2), the real purchasing power is $92,681 — a +4.0% difference.
Pennsylvania's cost of living is 3.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Pennsylvania is 96.2 (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 Pennsylvania: $89,160 x (100 / 96.2) = $92,681. 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 Pennsylvania enjoys 4.0% 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.