Life Scientists, All Other Salary
Life Scientists, All Others in Virginia make a median of $81,600 a year, or about $39.23 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $142K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $86,085 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in Virginia?
About life scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for life scientists, all other in Virginia runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $94K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level life scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $142K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Life Scientists, All Other salary by metro in Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $70K | -14% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track life scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a life scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/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 life scientists, all others in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new life scientists, all others typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,592/month. At HUD’s $1,646/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 life scientists, all other a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $82K here vs. $94K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for life scientists, all others?
Virginia pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do life scientists, all others make in Virginia?
The median is $81,600 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,870, and experienced life scientists, all others can clear $141,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,135/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 32.1% 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 life scientists, all other salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 life scientists, all other salary is worth about $86,085 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do life 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.