Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Kansas?
Kansas is 10.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.0, meaning prices are 10.0% lower the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $115,490 in Kansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $128,322 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $86,800 | $96,444 | +$9,644 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $103,630 | $115,144 | +$11,514 |
| Median (P50) | $115,490 | $128,322 | +$12,832 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $134,830 | $149,811 | +$14,981 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $182,780 | $203,088 | +$20,308 |
A Materials Scientists in Kansas earns $115,490 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $128,322 in an average-cost state. This makes Kansas one of the best value states for this occupation.
Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 90.0 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.0% less than the national average. For a Materials Scientists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $115,490 for Kansas's cost of living yields $128,322 — a 11.1% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Materials Scientists, Kansas places #7 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.
Kansas ranks #7 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 Kansas after taxes →
A Materials Scientists in Kansas earns a median salary of $115,490 per year. After adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (RPP=90.0), the real purchasing power is $128,322 — a +11.1% difference.
Kansas's cost of living is 10.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kansas is 90.0 (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 Kansas: $115,490 x (100 / 90.0) = $128,322. 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 Kansas enjoys 11.1% 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.