Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Nebraska is $72,470/year ($34.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $80,478 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Nebraska. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Nebraska?
About microbiologists
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for microbiologists in Nebraska runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $88K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Nebraska can be a reasonable trade-off for microbiologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track microbiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,430/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Nebraska?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $72K here vs. $88K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Nebraska pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Nebraska?
The median is $72,470 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,160, and experienced microbiologists can clear $166,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,689/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $80,478 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.