Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Materials Engineers salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Materials Engineers earning $88,080 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $93,206 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $69,180 | $73,206 | +$4,026 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $73,880 | $78,179 | +$4,299 |
| Median (P50) | $88,080 | $93,206 | +$5,126 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $115,670 | $122,402 | +$6,732 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $140,620 | $148,804 | +$8,184 |
A Materials Engineers in Utah earns $88,080 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $93,206 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 94.5, Utah is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Materials Engineers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After applying Utah's RPP, the $88,080 median salary translates to $93,206 in real terms — a 5.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Materials Engineers.
Utah ranks #41 of 45 — bottom quartile for Materials Engineers real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Materials Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #41 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 Utah after taxes →
A Materials Engineers in Utah earns a median salary of $88,080 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $93,206 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (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 Utah: $88,080 x (100 / 94.5) = $93,206. 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 Utah enjoys 5.8% 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.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.