State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Iowa vs Pennsylvania
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Iowa, $178,110. After cost-of-living, the gap is 6.2% — not 15.6%.
Nominal pay gap
-15.6%
Iowa vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
-6.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Iowa
Physicists
- Median
- $178,110
- p25
- $104,970
- p75
- $218,520
- p10
- $83,830
- p90
- $292,990
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +200%
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.