State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Pennsylvania vs Tennessee
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Tennessee, $165,010. After cost-of-living, the gap is 20.4% — not 27.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+27.9%
Pennsylvania vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+20.4%
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%
Tennessee
Physicists
- Median
- $165,010
- p25
- $107,700
- p75
- $236,920
- p10
- $88,610
- p90
- $239,850
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -40%
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.