Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in Michigan is $60,010/year ($28.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $63,915 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Michigan?
About animal scientists
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for animal scientists in Michigan runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Scientists salary by metro in Michigan
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing | $55K | -8% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 32% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in Michigan?
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 $1,272/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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $60K here vs. $69K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for animal scientists?
Michigan pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in Michigan?
The median is $60,010 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,080, and experienced animal scientists can clear $87,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,976/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 32% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $63,915 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.