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What does a Physicists salary really buy you in Indiana?
Indiana is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Physicists earning $105,940 in Indiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $115,403 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Indiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $64,000 | $69,716 | +$5,716 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $96,720 | $105,359 | +$8,639 |
| Median (P50) | $105,940 | $115,403 | +$9,463 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $163,320 | $177,908 | +$14,588 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $220,040 | $239,694 | +$19,654 |
A Physicists in Indiana earns $105,940 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $115,403 in an average-cost state. This makes Indiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Indiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Physicists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Indiana's RPP, the $105,940 median salary translates to $115,403 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Physicists.
Indiana ranks #36 of 43 — bottom quartile for Physicists real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Physicists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Indiana ranks #36 out of 43 states for Physicists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Physicists take-home pay in Indiana after taxes →
A Physicists in Indiana earns a median salary of $105,940 per year. After adjusting for Indiana's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $115,403 — a +8.9% difference.
Indiana's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Indiana is 91.8 (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 Indiana: $105,940 x (100 / 91.8) = $115,403. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physicists in Indiana enjoys 8.9% 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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