Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Alabama, biochemists and biophysicists earn $48,510 at the median, or about $23.32 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $54,900 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 32.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $49K get you in Alabama?
About biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in Alabama runs about 62% below the U.S. median of $127K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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, Alabama
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track biochemists and biophysicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,825/month. At HUD’s $1,085/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 biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 62% below the national median — $49K here vs. $127K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Alabama pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -62%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Alabama?
The median is $48,510 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,090, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $85,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,230/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 33.6% 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 biochemists and biophysicists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 biochemists and biophysicists salary is worth about $54,900 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biochemists and biophysicists 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.