State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Pennsylvania vs South Dakota
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In South Dakota, $83,050. After cost-of-living, the gap is 130.6% — not 154.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+154.1%
Pennsylvania vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+130.6%
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 Dakota
Physicists
- Median
- $83,050
- p25
- $66,170
- p75
- $134,300
- p10
- $53,910
- p90
- $180,690
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +50%
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.