Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The pay gap between states for this occupation? It can fund an entire year of rent. The national median salary for Biologists in 2026 is $98,931, with entry-level positions averaging $71,230 and senior roles reaching $140,481. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $180,200, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Biologist sits at the intersection of Science and Science & Research. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in biology, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is lab/field. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$109,650 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Biologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $180,200 — $109,650 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($70,550). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Biologists average $71,230, the median sits at $98,931, and senior earners pull in $140,481. That $69,251 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $18,564 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $168,300 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $71,117. That $97,183 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
A Biologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $180,200 — $109,650 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($70,550). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Biologist is $71,230, while senior-level (P90) earners average $140,481. That $69,251 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Biologists pull in an average of $140,481. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Biologists average $71,230 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $71,230 | $98,931 | $140,481 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £38,439 | £53,388 | £75,811 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$54,712 | CA$75,989 | CA$107,904 |
| Australia | 13 | A$62,777 | A$87,190 | A$123,810 |
| Sweden | 24 | 391,180 kr | 543,305 kr | 771,493 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $85,971 | $119,404 | $169,554 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $83,079 | $115,388 | $163,850 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $82,620 | $114,750 | $162,945 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $76,500 | $106,250 | $150,875 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $75,582 | $104,975 | $149,065 |
| Washington | 8 | $74,129 | $102,956 | $146,198 |
| New York | 5 | $69,768 | $96,900 | $137,598 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $69,768 | $96,900 | $137,598 |
| Florida | 22 | $69,239 | $96,166 | $136,556 |
| Colorado | 11 | $68,043 | $94,505 | $134,196 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $67,932 | $94,350 | $133,977 |
| Nevada | 5 | $67,810 | $94,180 | $133,736 |
| Arizona | 12 | $67,473 | $93,713 | $133,072 |
| Oregon | 5 | $67,320 | $93,500 | $132,770 |
| Idaho | 3 | $67,116 | $93,217 | $132,368 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $66,586 | $92,480 | $131,322 |
| Utah | 4 | $66,402 | $92,225 | $130,960 |
| Virginia | 7 | $65,309 | $90,707 | $128,804 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $64,464 | $89,533 | $127,137 |
| Alaska | 1 | $64,260 | $89,250 | $126,735 |
| Illinois | 5 | $63,526 | $88,230 | $125,287 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $61,948 | $86,039 | $122,175 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $61,200 | $85,000 | $120,700 |
| Montana | 1 | $61,200 | $85,000 | $120,700 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $60,996 | $84,717 | $120,298 |
| Texas | 40 | $60,695 | $84,299 | $119,704 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $60,588 | $84,150 | $119,493 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $60,282 | $83,725 | $118,890 |
| Georgia | 6 | $60,078 | $83,442 | $118,487 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $59,976 | $83,300 | $118,286 |
| Kansas | 4 | $59,670 | $82,875 | $117,683 |
| Michigan | 6 | $59,466 | $82,592 | $117,280 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $58,752 | $81,600 | $115,872 |
| Maryland | 1 | $58,752 | $81,600 | $115,872 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $58,140 | $80,750 | $114,665 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $58,140 | $80,750 | $114,665 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $56,610 | $78,625 | $111,648 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $56,304 | $78,200 | $111,044 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $55,539 | $77,138 | $109,535 |
| Missouri | 4 | $55,539 | $77,138 | $109,535 |
| Alabama | 5 | $55,325 | $76,840 | $109,113 |
| Indiana | 3 | $54,468 | $75,650 | $107,423 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $54,468 | $75,650 | $107,423 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,856 | $74,800 | $106,216 |
| Ohio | 6 | $53,754 | $74,658 | $106,015 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $51,408 | $71,400 | $101,388 |
The state salary map for Biologists: California at $119,404, Massachusetts at $115,388, Hawaii at $114,750 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($71,400), Ohio ($74,658), Iowa ($74,800) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $48,004.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($180,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $85,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $180,200 | 212 | $85,000 | $106,158 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $168,300 | 198 | $85,000 | $99,607 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $156,400 | 184 | $85,000 | $93,056 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $153,850 | 181 | $85,000 | $91,652 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $151,300 | 178 | $85,000 | $90,248 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $150,450 | 177 | $85,000 | $89,780 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $150,450 | 177 | $85,000 | $89,780 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $147,050 | 173 | $85,000 | $87,909 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $147,050 | 173 | $85,000 | $87,909 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $143,650 | 169 | $85,000 | $86,037 |
The $69,251 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Biologist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Biologists is $98,931 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $71,230, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $140,481.
The highest-paying city for Biologists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $180,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($180,200), Santa Clara ($168,300), Irvine ($156,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Biologist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $70,550. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Biologists (10th percentile) average $71,230 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $129,744. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Biologists average $140,481 nationally — $69,251 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Biologists can earn up to $255,884.
The top-paying states for Biologists are California ($119,404 median), Massachusetts ($115,388 median), Hawaii ($114,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Biologist involves Bachelor's in biology. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically lab/field.
With a national median of $98,931 and representation across 288 metro areas, Biologist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $69,251 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.