Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Tennessee, biochemists and biophysicists earn $134,560 at the median, or about $64.69 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $230K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $149,877 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 14% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $135K actually covers in Tennessee, month by month
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 14.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $230K or more, a $148K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $149K | +11% | 30 |
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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 Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 14.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,514/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Tennessee pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Tennessee?
The median is $134,560 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,140, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $229,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,560/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 14.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $149,877 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.