State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Pennsylvania vs South Carolina
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In South Carolina, $138,400. After cost-of-living, the gap is 46.4% — not 52.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+52.4%
Pennsylvania vs South Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+46.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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%
South Carolina
Physicists
- Median
- $138,400
- p25
- $110,600
- p75
- $172,350
- p10
- $106,510
- p90
- $228,440
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.7
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.