Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Maine, biochemists and biophysicists earn $84,560 at the median, or about $40.66 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $86,551 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $85K actually covers in Maine, month by month
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in Maine runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $127K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,281/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Maine can be a reasonable trade-off for biochemists and biophysicists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $84K | -0% | 380 |
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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 Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,329/month. At HUD’s $1,281/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 Maine?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $85K here vs. $127K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Maine pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Maine?
The median is $84,560 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,570, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $132,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,278/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $86,551 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.