Biological Technicians Salary
In Missouri, biological technicians earn $50,640 at the median, or about $24.35 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $56,918 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Missouri?
About biological technicians
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for biological technicians in Missouri runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $58K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level biological technicians (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Technicians salary by metro in Missouri
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $56K | +10% | 220 |
| Kansas City | $53K | +4% | 410 |
| Columbia | $52K | +2% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track biological technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biological technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 32% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for biological technicians in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological technicians typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,328/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biological technician a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $51K here vs. $58K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for biological technicians?
Missouri pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do biological technicians make in Missouri?
The median is $50,640 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,800, and experienced biological technicians can clear $74,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,426/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 32% 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 biological technicians salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 technicians salary is worth about $56,918 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological technicians 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.