Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in Lincoln, NE is $79,410/year ($38.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.58), which stretches that salary to about $86,711 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,141/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Lincoln, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lincoln’s Regional Price Parity (91.58). 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 Lincoln
Lincoln sits well above the national pay line for animal scientists, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,141/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.58 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Lincoln offers a genuinely strong financial position for animal scientists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lincoln, NE
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $69K 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 with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track animal scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Lincoln numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lincoln?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,141/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in Lincoln?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal scientists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,354/month. At HUD’s $1,141/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Lincoln?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $79K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does Lincoln compare to the national average for animal scientists?
Lincoln pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in Lincoln, NE?
The median is $79,410 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,770, and experienced animal scientists can clear $118,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Lincoln?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,141/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a animal scientists salary go in Lincoln?
Lincoln has a Regional Price Parity of 91.58 (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 $86,711 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.