Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Physicists salary really buy you in Florida?
Florida is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Florida's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Physicists earning $225,390 in Florida has the equivalent purchasing power of $220,754 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Florida's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $113,240 | $110,910 | $-2,329 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $153,980 | $150,812 | $-3,167 |
| Median (P50) | $225,390 | $220,754 | $-4,635 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $285,400 | $279,529 | $-5,870 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $308,580 | $302,233 | $-6,346 |
Florida's cost of living is close to the national average, so $225,390 keeps most of its value at $220,754 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.1, Florida is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Physicists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Florida's cost of living, $225,390 nominal nets out to $220,754 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Physicists.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Physicists, Florida places #2 of 43 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Physicists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Florida ranks #2 out of 43 states for Physicists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Physicists take-home pay in Florida after taxes →
A Physicists in Florida earns a median salary of $225,390 per year. After adjusting for Florida's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $220,754 — a -2.1% difference.
Florida's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Florida is 102.1 (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 Physicists in Florida: $225,390 x (100 / 102.1) = $220,754. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Physicists's nominal salary of $225,390 in Florida has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $220,754. However, Florida may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.