Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Michigan is $118,870/year ($57.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $126,606 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 16.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $119K get you in Michigan?
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Michigan
Physical scientists, all other pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $119K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,892/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $119K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
Michigan pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Michigan?
The median is $118,870 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,540, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $164,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,246/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 17.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical scientists, all other salary go in Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $126,606 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical scientists, all others 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.