Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Tennessee is $77,630/year ($37.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $86,467 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $78K actually covers in Tennessee, month by month
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for microbiologists in Tennessee runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $88K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for microbiologists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Microbiologists salary by metro in Tennessee
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $115K | +48% | 70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $78K | -0% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,711/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $78K here vs. $88K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Tennessee pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Tennessee?
The median is $77,630 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,880, and experienced microbiologists can clear $143,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,250/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.1% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $86,467 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.