What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $118,720 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $125,629 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $63,710 | $67,417 | +$3,707 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $86,060 | $91,068 | +$5,008 |
| Median (P50) | $118,720 | $125,629 | +$6,909 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $153,530 | $162,465 | +$8,935 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $161,340 | $170,730 | +$9,390 |
A Materials Scientists in Utah earns $118,720 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $125,629 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Materials Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #4 out of 30 states for Materials Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Materials Scientists in Utah earns a median salary of $118,720 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $125,629 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (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 Utah: $118,720 x (100 / 94.5) = $125,629. 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 Utah enjoys 5.8% 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.