What does a Soil and Plant Scientists salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Soil and Plant Scientists earning $72,550 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,772 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $38,450 | $40,687 | +$2,237 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,440 | $54,433 | +$2,993 |
| Median (P50) | $72,550 | $76,772 | +$4,222 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $84,670 | $89,597 | +$4,927 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $96,780 | $102,412 | +$5,632 |
A Soil and Plant Scientists in Utah earns $72,550 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $76,772 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Soil and Plant Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #17 out of 45 states for Soil and Plant Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Soil and Plant Scientists in Utah earns a median salary of $72,550 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $76,772 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (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 Soil and Plant Scientists in Utah: $72,550 x (100 / 94.5) = $76,772. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Soil and Plant Scientists in Utah enjoys 5.8% 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.