Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Pennsylvania, biochemists and biophysicists earn $134,090 at the median, or about $64.47 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $141,192 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 16.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Pennsylvania?
About biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $134K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $134K | +0% | 3,050 |
| Pittsburgh | $125K | -7% | 140 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,973/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $134K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Pennsylvania pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $134,090 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,890, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $172,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,191/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 16.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $141,192 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.