Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In North Carolina, biochemists and biophysicists earn $82,220 at the median, or about $39.53 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $88,733 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in North Carolina?
About biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in North Carolina runs about 35% below the U.S. median of $127K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for biochemists and biophysicistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by metro in North Carolina
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $99K | +20% | 50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $88K | +7% | 260 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $80K | -3% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track biochemists and biophysicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,771/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 35% below the national median — $82K here vs. $127K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
North Carolina pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in North Carolina?
The median is $82,220 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,850, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $160,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,211/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 24.6% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $88,733 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.