What does a Physical Scientists, All Other 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 Physical Scientists, All Other earning $109,120 in Oregon has the equivalent purchasing power of $102,363 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) | $68,500 | $64,258 | $-4,241 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $82,490 | $77,382 | $-5,107 |
| Median (P50) | $109,120 | $102,363 | $-6,756 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $127,930 | $120,009 | $-7,920 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $153,340 | $143,846 | $-9,493 |
While $109,120 sounds high, Oregon's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $102,363. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Physical Scientists, All Other salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Oregon ranks #29 out of 41 states for Physical Scientists, All Other after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Physical Scientists, All Other in Oregon earns a median salary of $109,120 per year. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (RPP=106.6), the real purchasing power is $102,363 — 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 Physical Scientists, All Other in Oregon: $109,120 x (100 / 106.6) = $102,363. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Physical Scientists, All Other's nominal salary of $109,120 in Oregon has 6.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $102,363. However, Oregon may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.