Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Kansas City, MO-KS, biochemists and biophysicists earn $95,990 at the median, or about $46.15 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.54), which stretches that salary to about $103,728 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,358/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Kansas City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kansas City’s Regional Price Parity (92.54). 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 Kansas City
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in Kansas City runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $127K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,358/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Kansas City can be a reasonable trade-off for biochemists and biophysicistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Kansas City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $80K | $84K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $86K | $83K |
| Oklahoma City | $69K | $76K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $84K | $91K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas City, MO-KS
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $77K 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 Kansas City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,358/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,552/month. At HUD’s $1,358/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Kansas City?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $96K here vs. $127K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Kansas City pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $95,990 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,860, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $153,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,010/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,358/month, which eats 22.6% 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 Kansas City?
Kansas City has a Regional Price Parity of 92.54 (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 $103,728 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.
