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State comparison · 2025

Physicists salary: Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania

Occupation

Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Massachusetts, $106,410. After cost-of-living, the gap is 53.5% — not 49.6%.

Nominal pay gap
-49.6%
Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
-53.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

Massachusetts

Physicists

Median
$106,410
p25
$82,070
p75
$170,190
p10
$82,050
p90
$213,150
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
105.8
Hiring velocity (180d)
-46%
See full breakdown for Massachusetts

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.