Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, biochemists and biophysicists earn $87,650 at the median, or about $42.14 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $89,833 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $88K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in Durham-Chapel Hill runs about 31% below the U.S. median of $127K. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $80K | $81K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $99K | $102K |
| Knoxville | $149K | $161K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $89K 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
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biochemists and biophysicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 31.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,855/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay runs 31% below the national median — $88K here vs. $127K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $87,650 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,250, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $152,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,509/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 31.1% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $89,833 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.