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What does a Soil and Plant Scientists salary really buy you in Maryland?
Maryland is 5.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Maryland's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 105.0, meaning prices are 5.0% higher the national average. A Soil and Plant Scientists earning $85,020 in Maryland has the equivalent purchasing power of $80,971 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $53,630 | $51,076 | $-2,553 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $63,480 | $60,457 | $-3,022 |
| Median (P50) | $85,020 | $80,971 | $-4,048 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $111,530 | $106,219 | $-5,310 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $173,440 | $165,180 | $-8,259 |
While $85,020 sounds high, Maryland's elevated cost of living erases 5% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $80,971. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Maryland's RPP of 105.0 puts it 5.0% above the national baseline cost of living. A Soil and Plant Scientists needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Maryland's RPP, the $85,020 median salary translates to $80,971 in real terms — a 4.8% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Soil and Plant Scientists.
Maryland sits at #18 of 46 states for Soil and Plant Scientists COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Soil and Plant Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Maryland ranks #18 out of 46 states for Soil and Plant Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Soil and Plant Scientists take-home pay in Maryland after taxes →
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Maryland earns a median salary of $85,020 per year. After adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (RPP=105.0), the real purchasing power is $80,971 — a -4.8% difference.
Maryland's cost of living is 5.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maryland is 105.0 (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 Soil and Plant Scientists in Maryland: $85,020 x (100 / 105.0) = $80,971. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Soil and Plant Scientists's nominal salary of $85,020 in Maryland has 4.8% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $80,971. However, Maryland may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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