What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Oregon?
Oregon is 6.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Oregon's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 106.6, meaning prices are 6.6% higher the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $103,980 in Oregon has the equivalent purchasing power of $97,542 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $78,960 | $74,071 | $-4,888 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $81,780 | $76,716 | $-5,063 |
| Median (P50) | $103,980 | $97,542 | $-6,437 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $136,720 | $128,255 | $-8,464 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $185,070 | $173,611 | $-11,458 |
While $103,980 sounds high, Oregon's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $97,542. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Materials Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Oregon ranks #23 out of 30 states for Materials Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Materials Scientists in Oregon earns a median salary of $103,980 per year. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (RPP=106.6), the real purchasing power is $97,542 — a -6.2% difference.
Oregon's cost of living is 6.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Oregon is 106.6 (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 Oregon: $103,980 x (100 / 106.6) = $97,542. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Materials Scientists's nominal salary of $103,980 in Oregon has 6.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $97,542. However, Oregon may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.