Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $55,450/year ($26.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $58,375 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,268/month, about 34.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $55K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About animal scientists
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What this looks like in Lansing-East Lansing
Pay for animal scientists in Lansing-East Lansing runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,268/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.99 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal scientists in metros near Lansing-East Lansing, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $84K | $87K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Animal Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $133K | +93% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $89K | +29% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | +22% | 280 |
| Washington | $83K | +21% | 40 |
| Kansas | $80K | +16% | N/A |
| Maryland | $78K | +13% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | +13% | 90 |
| South Dakota | $77K | +12% | 90 |
| Iowa | $75K | +9% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $72K | +5% | 40 |
| Michigan | $60K | -13% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $55K | -20% | 210 |
| Illinois | $48K | -30% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 13 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track animal scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lansing-East Lansing?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in Lansing-East Lansing?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal scientists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,825/month. At HUD’s $1,268/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal scientist a high-paying job in Lansing-East Lansing?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $55K here vs. $69K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lansing-East Lansing compare to the national average for animal scientists?
Lansing-East Lansing pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.99), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $55,450 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,080, and experienced animal scientists can clear $84,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 34.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a animal scientists salary go in Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal scientists salary is worth about $58,375 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.