Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, biochemists and biophysicists earn $79,250 at the median — $38.1 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $86,423 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $149K | +44% | 510 |
| Arkansas | $143K | +38% | 100 |
| California | $130K | +26% | 4,190 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +23% | 13,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $113K | +9% | 2,530 |
| Virginia | $109K | +5% | 130 |
| Washington | $108K | +4% | 530 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | +0% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $103K | -0% | 2,180 |
| Wisconsin | $102K | -1% | 170 |
| Oregon | $101K | -2% | 70 |
| Delaware | $101K | -2% | 470 |
| Maryland | $100K | -4% | 760 |
| Maine | $96K | -7% | 350 |
| New York | $95K | -8% | 1,660 |
| Texas | $95K | -9% | 710 |
| Tennessee | $92K | -11% | 40 |
| Ohio | $83K | -20% | 410 |
| Minnesota | $83K | -20% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -21% | 70 |
| Idaho | $81K | -22% | 40 |
| Illinois | $81K | -22% | 150 |
| Iowa | $80K | -22% | 170 |
| Utah | $78K | -24% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | -27% | 40 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -28% | 40 |
| Missouri | $73K | -30% | 340 |
| Nebraska | $69K | -33% | 40 |
| Michigan | $64K | -38% | 980 |
| Indiana | $64K | -39% | 1,350 |
| Alabama | $58K | -44% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 31 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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Frequently asked questions
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $79,250 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,560, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $104,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,004/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 26.3% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $86,423 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.