Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Mississippi
$99,000 / year
≈ $8,250 per month · $47.60 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Mississippi · median $94,500
25th percentile
$74,000Average
$99,00075th percentile
$113,000
$74,000Average
$99,00075th percentile
$113,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Biologist salary by state
Alabama$93,000
Alaska$109,500
Arizona$101,000
Arkansas$81,500
California$128,000
Colorado$100,000
Connecticut$124,000
Delaware$117,500
District of Columbia$114,000
Florida$88,500
Georgia$100,000
Hawaii$102,000
Idaho$85,000
Illinois$95,500
Indiana$109,000
Iowa$92,500
Kansas$91,000
Kentucky$82,500
Louisiana$76,000
Maine$108,500
Maryland$130,500
Massachusetts$127,000
Michigan$92,000
Minnesota$83,000
Mississippi$99,000
Missouri$78,000
Montana$92,000
Nebraska$90,000
Nevada$80,000
New Hampshire$98,000
New Jersey$113,000
New Mexico$87,500
New York$122,000
North Carolina$109,500
Ohio$100,500
Oklahoma$85,500
Oregon$92,500
Pennsylvania$108,500
Rhode Island$116,500
South Carolina$102,000
South Dakota$78,500
Tennessee$83,000
Texas$90,500
Utah$100,500
Vermont$82,500
Virginia$106,500
Washington$118,000
West Virginia$88,500
Wisconsin$86,000
Wyoming$91,000
About this role
Biologist is a professional role within the function in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Biologists do
Typical education: Master's Degree
- Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
- Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
- Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.
- Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
Top skills: Science Writing Reading Comprehension Speaking Critical Thinking Active Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Biologist pay by experience level
Entry level$62,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$79,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$102,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$132,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$174,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,800
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Biologist salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
21,690 workers
$104,000Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
20,310 workers
$117,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
19,700 workers
$107,000Scientific Research and Development Services
15,870 workers
$123,500Educational Services
5,010 workers
$84,000Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
4,990 workers
$84,000Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
2,880 workers
$92,000Educational Services, State Government Owned
2,820 workers
$82,500Chemical Manufacturing
2,230 workers
$128,500Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
2,190 workers
$129,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Biologist pays 9% above the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Bioinformatics Scientist$110,000
Nuclear Monitoring Technician$112,500
Hydrologist$107,000
Geographer$106,000
Clinical Neuropsychologist$115,000
Chemist$104,000
School Psychologist$102,500
Epidemiologist$101,500
Careers related to Biologist
Bioinformatics Technician$95,000
Data Scientist$131,000
Statistician$119,500
Biochemists and Biophysicists$134,500
Biological Technician$63,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Biologist make?
The average base salary for a Biologist in the United States is $110,000 per year, or about $52.88 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $79,500 and $132,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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