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What does a Materials Scientists salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Materials Scientists earning $137,700 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $149,187 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $73,650 | $79,794 | +$6,144 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $98,160 | $106,348 | +$8,188 |
| Median (P50) | $137,700 | $149,187 | +$11,487 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $154,540 | $167,432 | +$12,892 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $160,640 | $174,041 | +$13,401 |
A Materials Scientists in Wisconsin earns $137,700 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $149,187 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 92.3 means a basket of goods and services costs about 7.7% less than the national average. For a Materials Scientists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Wisconsin's RPP, the $137,700 median salary translates to $149,187 in real terms — a 8.3% 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, Wisconsin places #2 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.
Wisconsin ranks #2 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 Wisconsin after taxes →
A Materials Scientists in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $137,700 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $149,187 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (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 Wisconsin: $137,700 x (100 / 92.3) = $149,187. 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 Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% 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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