Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $85,860/year ($41.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $87,998 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $86K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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 microbiologists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Microbiologists pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $88K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for microbiologists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $80K | $83K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $85K | $87K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $85K | $88K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $109K | $109K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Microbiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Microbiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122K | +39% | 1,960 |
| California | $109K | +23% | 2,600 |
| Maryland | $108K | +23% | 1,590 |
| Georgia | $103K | +17% | 880 |
| New Jersey | $96K | +9% | 790 |
| Illinois | $92K | +5% | 1,470 |
| Oregon | $89K | +1% | 170 |
| Montana | $88K | -0% | 80 |
| Connecticut | $86K | -2% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $86K | -2% | 1,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $85K | -4% | 670 |
| Minnesota | $83K | -5% | 290 |
| Delaware | $83K | -6% | 190 |
| Colorado | $82K | -7% | 370 |
| New York | $81K | -8% | 1,050 |
| Florida | $81K | -8% | 270 |
| Iowa | $80K | -9% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $79K | -10% | 170 |
| Michigan | $79K | -11% | 370 |
| Missouri | $79K | -11% | 140 |
| Indiana | $78K | -11% | 150 |
| Virginia | $78K | -12% | 280 |
| Washington | $78K | -12% | 340 |
| Tennessee | $78K | -12% | 210 |
| Alaska | $76K | -13% | 30 |
| Utah | $73K | -17% | 120 |
| Ohio | $73K | -18% | 530 |
| Nebraska | $72K | -18% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $71K | -19% | 60 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -20% | 80 |
| Kansas | $71K | -20% | 120 |
| Arizona | $70K | -21% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $69K | -22% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | -24% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $67K | -24% | 80 |
| Texas | $66K | -24% | 920 |
| Idaho | $66K | -25% | 70 |
| Alabama | $66K | -25% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -26% | 100 |
| Nevada | $64K | -27% | 110 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -30% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $60K | -32% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track microbiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,830/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is microbiologist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $88K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $85,860 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,830, and experienced microbiologists can clear $138,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,410/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 31.6% 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 microbiologists salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 microbiologists salary is worth about $87,998 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do microbiologists 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.