Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Raleigh-Cary, NC, biochemists and biophysicists earn $79,990 at the median, or about $38.46 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $81,489 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,750/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $80K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). 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 Raleigh-Cary
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in Raleigh-Cary runs about 37% below the U.S. median of $127K. Rent runs $1,750/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.16) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Raleigh-Cary, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $88K | $90K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $99K | $102K |
| Knoxville | $149K | $161K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $98K 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 Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Raleigh-Cary?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,750/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Raleigh-Cary?
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 $1,750/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Local pay runs 37% below the national median — $80K here vs. $127K nationally.
How does Raleigh-Cary compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Raleigh-Cary pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $79,990 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,850, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $161,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,088/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 34.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a biochemists and biophysicists salary go in Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $81,489 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.