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State comparison · 2025

Physicists salary: Alabama vs Pennsylvania

Occupation

Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Alabama, $139,330. After cost-of-living, the gap is 27.4% — not 34%.

Nominal pay gap
-34%
Alabama vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
-27.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

Alabama

Physicists

Median
$139,330
p25
$103,570
p75
$195,190
p10
$74,290
p90
$227,790
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
88.8
Hiring velocity (180d)
-50%
See full breakdown for Alabama

Pennsylvania

Physicists

Median
$210,990
p25
$150,950
p75
$231,190
p10
$88,300
p90
$261,820
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
97.6
Hiring velocity (180d)
+73%
See full breakdown for Pennsylvania

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.