Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI is $89,240/year ($42.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.84), which stretches that salary to about $94,095 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,162/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $89K get you in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kalamazoo-Portage’s Regional Price Parity (94.84). 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 Kalamazoo-Portage
Microbiologists pay in Kalamazoo-Portage tracks closely to the national median, $89K locally vs. $88K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,162/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.84 (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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for microbiologists in metros near Kalamazoo-Portage, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing | $68K | $72K |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $74K | $73K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $76K | $80K |
| Madison | $68K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $79K 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 Kalamazoo-Portage numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,162/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Kalamazoo-Portage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,239/month. At HUD’s $1,162/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Kalamazoo-Portage?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $89K locally vs. $88K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kalamazoo-Portage compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Kalamazoo-Portage pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.84), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
The median is $89,240 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,990, and experienced microbiologists can clear $132,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Kalamazoo-Portage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,614/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,162/month, which eats 20.7% 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 Kalamazoo-Portage?
Kalamazoo-Portage has a Regional Price Parity of 94.84 (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 $94,095 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.