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What does a Physicists 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 Physicists earning $173,120 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $187,562 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) | $89,310 | $96,760 | +$7,450 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $120,440 | $130,487 | +$10,047 |
| Median (P50) | $173,120 | $187,562 | +$14,442 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $237,320 | $257,118 | +$19,798 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $291,910 | $316,262 | +$24,352 |
A Physicists in Wisconsin earns $173,120 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $187,562 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 Physicists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Wisconsin's RPP, the $173,120 median salary translates to $187,562 in real terms — a 8.3% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Physicists.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Physicists, Wisconsin places #9 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.
Wisconsin ranks #9 out of 43 states for Physicists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Physicists take-home pay in Wisconsin after taxes →
A Physicists in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $173,120 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $187,562 — 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 Physicists in Wisconsin: $173,120 x (100 / 92.3) = $187,562. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physicists 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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