What does a Political Scientists salary really buy you in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is 3.8% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Pennsylvania's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 96.2, meaning prices are 3.8% lower the national average. A Political Scientists earning $132,640 in Pennsylvania has the equivalent purchasing power of $137,879 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $75,420 | $78,399 | +$2,979 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $104,990 | $109,137 | +$4,147 |
| Median (P50) | $132,640 | $137,879 | +$5,239 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $160,090 | $166,413 | +$6,323 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $192,420 | $200,020 | +$7,600 |
A Political Scientists in Pennsylvania earns $132,640 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 4% further — like earning $137,879 in an average-cost state. This makes Pennsylvania one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Political Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Pennsylvania ranks #3 out of 15 states for Political Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Political Scientists in Pennsylvania earns a median salary of $132,640 per year. After adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (RPP=96.2), the real purchasing power is $137,879 — a +4.0% difference.
Pennsylvania's cost of living is 3.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Pennsylvania is 96.2 (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 Political Scientists in Pennsylvania: $132,640 x (100 / 96.2) = $137,879. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Political Scientists in Pennsylvania enjoys 4.0% 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.