Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Pittsburgh, PA, biochemists and biophysicists earn $125,020 at the median, or about $60.11 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $132,059 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,299/month, or 16.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $125K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). 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 Pittsburgh
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in Pittsburgh tracks closely to the national median, $125K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,299/month, 16.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.67 (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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Pittsburgh, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $134K | $131K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $110K | $97K |
| Trenton-Princeton | $124K | $120K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $99K | $94K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $125K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $111K 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 Pittsburgh numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pittsburgh?
Yes — at the median salary of $125K, rent takes 16.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,299/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Pittsburgh?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,002/month. At HUD’s $1,299/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Pittsburgh?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $125K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Pittsburgh compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Pittsburgh pays $125K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $125,020 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,370, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $193,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $125K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,697/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 16.9% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (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 $132,059 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.