What does a Physicists salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Physicists earning $120,080 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $109,362 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $67,240 | $61,238 | $-6,001 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $100,610 | $91,630 | $-8,979 |
| Median (P50) | $120,080 | $109,362 | $-10,717 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $172,020 | $156,666 | $-15,353 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $224,320 | $204,298 | $-20,021 |
While $120,080 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $109,362. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Physicists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #36 out of 39 states for Physicists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Physicists in Washington earns a median salary of $120,080 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $109,362 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (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 Washington: $120,080 x (100 / 109.8) = $109,362. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Physicists's nominal salary of $120,080 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $109,362. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.