Biological Scientists, All Other Salary
In Ames, IA, biological scientists, all others earn $82,720 at the median, or about $39.77 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $93,122 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). 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 biological scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Ames
Pay for biological scientists, all other in Ames runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $99K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Ames can be a reasonable trade-off for biological scientists, all others who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biological scientists, all others in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $99K | $108K |
| Iowa City | $80K | $88K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $83K | $93K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $86K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level biological scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biological Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $122K | +23% | 4,970 |
| California | $114K | +15% | 11,880 |
| Delaware | $113K | +15% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $112K | +13% | 170 |
| Washington | $108K | +9% | 2,620 |
| Massachusetts | $107K | +8% | 2,930 |
| Alaska | $107K | +8% | 370 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +6% | 540 |
| Maine | $105K | +6% | 340 |
| New York | $104K | +5% | 2,520 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +3% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $101K | +2% | 1,810 |
| North Carolina | $100K | +1% | 2,780 |
| Georgia | $97K | -2% | 1,230 |
| Virginia | $96K | -3% | 1,650 |
| Hawaii | $96K | -3% | 370 |
| Ohio | $96K | -3% | 610 |
| Colorado | $94K | -5% | 850 |
| Utah | $93K | -6% | 590 |
| South Carolina | $92K | -7% | 240 |
| Wyoming | $92K | -7% | 170 |
| Montana | $92K | -7% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -8% | 320 |
| Arizona | $90K | -9% | 760 |
| Alabama | $87K | -12% | 340 |
| Oregon | $86K | -13% | 700 |
| West Virginia | $85K | -14% | 230 |
| District of Columbia | $85K | -14% | 850 |
| Indiana | $85K | -15% | 640 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -15% | 420 |
| Florida | $84K | -15% | 1,920 |
| New Hampshire | $84K | -15% | 310 |
| Idaho | $83K | -16% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -16% | 240 |
| Iowa | $83K | -16% | 550 |
| Illinois | $83K | -16% | 1,300 |
| Michigan | $82K | -18% | 860 |
| Texas | $81K | -18% | 2,480 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -19% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -19% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -20% | 260 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -21% | 740 |
| Vermont | $78K | -21% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $76K | -23% | 750 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -23% | 360 |
| Kansas | $76K | -23% | 760 |
| Nevada | $74K | -25% | 410 |
| South Dakota | $74K | -25% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $70K | -30% | 580 |
| Missouri | $63K | -36% | 1,120 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biological scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biological scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biological scientists, all others in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological scientists, all others typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,435/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biological scientists, all other a high-paying job in Ames?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $83K here vs. $99K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ames compare to the national average for biological scientists, all others?
Ames pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do biological scientists, all others make in Ames, IA?
The median is $82,720 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,920, and experienced biological scientists, all others can clear $117,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,191/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 22.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biological scientists, all other salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (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 biological scientists, all other salary is worth about $93,122 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological scientists, all others 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.