Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Knoxville, TN, biochemists and biophysicists earn $149,140 at the median, or about $71.7 an hour. The range runs from $129K at the entry level to $230K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $161,111 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,471/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $149K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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 Knoxville
Knoxville sits well above the national pay line for biochemists and biophysicists, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $127K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,471/month, 15.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Knoxville offers a genuinely strong financial position for biochemists and biophysicistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $88K | $90K |
| St. Louis | $80K | $84K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $80K | $81K |
| Kansas City | $96K | $104K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $129K. Mid-career wages sit at $149K. Top earners bring in $230K or more, a $100K 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 Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
Yes — at the median salary of $149K, rent takes 15.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $129K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,760/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Knoxville?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $149K here vs. $127K nationally.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Knoxville pays $149K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $161K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $149,140 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $129,330, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $229,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $149K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,391/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 15.7% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $161,111 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.