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What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $130,540 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $142,200 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $53,660 | $58,453 | +$4,793 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $82,180 | $89,520 | +$7,340 |
| Median (P50) | $130,540 | $142,200 | +$11,660 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $190,640 | $207,668 | +$17,028 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $197,910 | $215,588 | +$17,678 |
A Materials Scientists in Indiana earns $130,540 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $142,200 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Materials Scientists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Indiana's RPP, the $130,540 median salary translates to $142,200 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Materials Scientists.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Materials Scientists, Indiana places #3 of 30 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Materials Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #3 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 Indiana after taxes →
A Materials Scientists in Indiana earns a median salary of $130,540 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $142,200 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (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 Scientists in Indiana: $130,540 x (100 / 91.8) = $142,200. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Materials Scientists in Indiana enjoys 8.9% 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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