Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in Pennsylvania is $77,660/year ($37.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $81,773 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 26% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Pennsylvania?
About animal scientists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for animal scientists, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Scientists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $78K | +0% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal scientists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,541/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $78K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for animal scientists?
Pennsylvania pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $77,660 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,010, and experienced animal scientists can clear $167,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,053/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $81,773 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.