Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $114,840/year ($55.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $124,582 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $115K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 Memphis
Memphis sits well above the national pay line for microbiologists, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $88K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 17.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Memphis offers a genuinely strong financial position for microbiologistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for microbiologists in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $78K | $81K |
| Wilmington | $80K | $83K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $109K | $109K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $86K | $88K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $93K 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 Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $115K, rent takes 17.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,041/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Memphis?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $115K here vs. $88K nationally.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Memphis pays $115K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $114,840 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,690, and experienced microbiologists can clear $143,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,431/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 17.1% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $124,582 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.