Biological Scientists, All Other Salary
In Portland-South Portland, ME, biological scientists, all others earn $119,430 at the median, or about $57.42 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $117,249 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,130/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $119K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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 Portland-South Portland
Portland-South Portland sits well above the national pay line for biological scientists, all other, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Rent runs $2,130/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level biological scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $91K 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 Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biological scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biological scientists, all others in Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological scientists, all others typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,024/month. At HUD’s $2,130/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biological scientists, all other a high-paying job in Portland-South Portland?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $119K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for biological scientists, all others?
Portland-South Portland pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biological scientists, all others make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $119,430 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,740, and experienced biological scientists, all others can clear $174,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,113/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 29.9% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biological scientists, all other salary is worth about $117,249 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.