Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Indiana is $77,900/year ($37.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $84,849 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $78K actually covers in Indiana, month by month
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What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for microbiologists in Indiana runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $88K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Indiana can be a reasonable trade-off for microbiologists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Microbiologists salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $78K | -0% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,742/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Indiana?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $78K here vs. $88K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Indiana pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Indiana?
The median is $77,900 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,460, and experienced microbiologists can clear $120,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 22.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a microbiologists salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $84,849 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.