Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Boulder, CO, biochemists and biophysicists earn $140,710 at the median, or about $67.65 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $219K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.2), so that salary is closer to $133,755 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,033/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $141K actually covers in Boulder, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boulder’s Regional Price Parity (105.2). 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 biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in Boulder
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in Boulder tracks closely to the national median, $141K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,033/month, 24.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.2), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $82K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K. Top earners bring in $219K or more, a $135K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $157K | +24% | 370 |
| California | $140K | +10% | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $135K | +6% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +5% | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $133K | +4% | 540 |
| Massachusetts | $132K | +3% | 14,890 |
| New Jersey | $123K | -4% | 2,570 |
| District of Columbia | $120K | -6% | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $110K | -14% | 200 |
| Michigan | $109K | -14% | 730 |
| South Carolina | $109K | -14% | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $106K | -16% | 170 |
| Virginia | $106K | -17% | 70 |
| Delaware | $102K | -20% | 490 |
| Iowa | $101K | -21% | 140 |
| New York | $101K | -21% | 980 |
| Maryland | $101K | -21% | 690 |
| Washington | $99K | -22% | 270 |
| Kansas | $98K | -23% | 140 |
| Texas | $98K | -23% | 520 |
| Ohio | $90K | -29% | 350 |
| Illinois | $87K | -32% | 150 |
| Georgia | $86K | -33% | 110 |
| Maine | $85K | -34% | 390 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -35% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $82K | -35% | 570 |
| Utah | $82K | -36% | 160 |
| Minnesota | $81K | -36% | 190 |
| Missouri | $80K | -38% | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | -40% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $75K | -41% | 40 |
| Nevada | $69K | -46% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $69K | -46% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $67K | -47% | 70 |
| Alabama | $49K | -62% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biochemists and biophysicists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
Yes — at the median salary of $141K, rent takes 24.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,033/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,327/month. At HUD’s $2,033/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 Boulder?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $141K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Boulder pays $141K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $134K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $140,710 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,210, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $219,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,395/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,033/month, which eats 24.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biochemists and biophysicists salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biochemists and biophysicists salary is worth about $133,755 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.