Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary really buy you in Texas?
Texas is 2.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Texas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.5, meaning prices are 2.5% lower the national average. A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary earning $97,760 in Texas has the equivalent purchasing power of $100,266 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Texas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $60,590 | $62,143 | +$1,553 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $67,890 | $69,630 | +$1,740 |
| Median (P50) | $97,760 | $100,266 | +$2,506 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $124,230 | $127,415 | +$3,185 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $167,090 | $171,374 | +$4,284 |
Texas's cost of living is close to the national average, so $97,760 keeps most of its value at $100,266 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 97.5, Texas is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Texas's cost of living, $97,760 nominal nets out to $100,267 in real purchasing power — a small 2.6% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Physics Teachers, Postsecondary.
Texas's rank of #25 of 47 states means real purchasing power for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary trails the national half-way line.
Where does Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Texas ranks #25 out of 47 states for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Physics Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay in Texas after taxes →
A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Texas earns a median salary of $97,760 per year. After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (RPP=97.5), the real purchasing power is $100,266 — a +2.6% difference.
Texas's cost of living is 2.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Texas is 97.5 (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 Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Texas: $97,760 x (100 / 97.5) = $100,266. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in Texas enjoys 2.6% 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.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.