Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Utah is $72,600/year ($34.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $73,676 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $73K actually covers in Utah, month by month
About microbiologists
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for microbiologists in Utah runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $88K. Rent runs $1,350/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Microbiologists salary by metro in Utah
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $80K | +11% | 60 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $62K | -15% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Utah 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 Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 28.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,132/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $73K here vs. $88K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Utah pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Utah?
The median is $72,600 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,960, and experienced microbiologists can clear $123,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,674/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 28.9% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $73,676 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.