Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA is $61,710/year ($29.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.65), that's roughly $62,554 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,493/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Harrisburg-Carlisle’s Regional Price Parity (98.65). 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle
Pay for microbiologists in Harrisburg-Carlisle runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $88K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,493/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.65) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for microbiologistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for microbiologists in metros near Harrisburg-Carlisle, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $102K | $99K |
| Pittsburgh | $60K | $63K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $55K | $55K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $86K | $76K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $37K 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
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 Harrisburg-Carlisle numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,493/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,244/month. At HUD’s $1,493/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 microbiologist a high-paying job in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $62K here vs. $88K nationally.
How does Harrisburg-Carlisle compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Harrisburg-Carlisle pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median is $61,710 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,060, and experienced microbiologists can clear $91,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,144/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,493/month, which eats 36% 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Harrisburg-Carlisle has a Regional Price Parity of 98.65 (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 $62,554 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.