State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Illinois vs Pennsylvania
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Illinois, $137,140. After cost-of-living, the gap is 36.6% — not 35%.
Nominal pay gap
-35%
Illinois vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
-36.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Illinois
Physicists
- Median
- $137,140
- p25
- $82,110
- p75
- $175,510
- p10
- $81,830
- p90
- $221,380
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -37%
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%
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.