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What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Florida?
Florida is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Florida's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $102,340 in Florida has the equivalent purchasing power of $100,235 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Florida's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $77,270 | $75,680 | $-1,589 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $80,720 | $79,059 | $-1,660 |
| Median (P50) | $102,340 | $100,235 | $-2,104 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $124,860 | $122,291 | $-2,568 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $155,070 | $151,880 | $-3,189 |
Florida's cost of living is close to the national average, so $102,340 keeps most of its value at $100,235 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.1, Florida is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Materials Scientists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Florida's cost of living, $102,340 nominal nets out to $100,235 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Materials Scientists.
Florida ranks #24 of 30 — bottom quartile for Materials Scientists real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Materials Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Florida ranks #24 out of 30 states for Materials Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Materials Scientists take-home pay in Florida after taxes →
A Materials Scientists in Florida earns a median salary of $102,340 per year. After adjusting for Florida's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $100,235 — a -2.1% difference.
Florida's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Florida is 102.1 (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 Scientists in Florida: $102,340 x (100 / 102.1) = $100,235. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Materials Scientists's nominal salary of $102,340 in Florida has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $100,235. However, Florida may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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