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What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Nevada?
Nevada is 3.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Nevada's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 96.4, meaning prices are 3.6% lower the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $97,490 in Nevada has the equivalent purchasing power of $101,130 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Nevada's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $78,350 | $81,275 | +$2,925 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $86,250 | $89,470 | +$3,220 |
| Median (P50) | $97,490 | $101,130 | +$3,640 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $98,970 | $102,665 | +$3,695 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $121,610 | $126,151 | +$4,541 |
A Materials Scientists in Nevada earns $97,490 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 4% further — like earning $101,130 in an average-cost state. This makes Nevada one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 96.4, Nevada 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 applying Nevada's RPP, the $97,490 median salary translates to $101,131 in real terms — a 3.7% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Materials Scientists.
Nevada ranks #23 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.
Nevada ranks #23 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 Nevada after taxes →
A Materials Scientists in Nevada earns a median salary of $97,490 per year. After adjusting for Nevada's cost of living (RPP=96.4), the real purchasing power is $101,130 — a +3.7% difference.
Nevada's cost of living is 3.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Nevada is 96.4 (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 Nevada: $97,490 x (100 / 96.4) = $101,130. 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 Nevada enjoys 3.7% 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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