Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Mississippi is $61,690/year ($29.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $69,393 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,077/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Mississippi. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $62K get you in Mississippi?
About microbiologists
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for microbiologists in Mississippi runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $88K. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mississippi
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track microbiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,641/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $62K here vs. $88K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Mississippi pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Mississippi?
The median is $61,690 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,010, and experienced microbiologists can clear $115,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,059/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 26.5% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $69,393 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.
