Astronomers Salaries in Bellevue, NE
Average Base Pay
$120,072/yr
7% below national average
Monthly
$10,006
Hourly
$58
Cost Index
82
Astronomers in Bellevue, NE earn an average of $120,072 per year, with most salaries falling between $96,058 and $144,086 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 7% below the national average, Bellevue offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 82. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Bellevue.
Salary Range
The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.
Low
Median
High
About Astronomers
Research Scientists conduct original scientific investigation to advance knowledge or develop practical applications in fields ranging from biology and chemistry to materials science, physics, and computer science. In academic settings, they design experiments, collect and analyze data, develop and test hypotheses, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. In corporate or government research settings, the work is often more applied—translating scientific knowledge into new products, processes, or technologies with commercial or policy value. The research process demands rigorous experimental design, statistical analysis, and critical interpretation of results. Research scientists must command the existing literature in their field, position their work relative to prior knowledge, and communicate findings to both scientific and lay audiences. Collaboration with other scientists, technicians, and sometimes clinicians or engineers is standard, as is mentorship of graduate students or junior researchers. Securing research funding through competitive grant applications is a critical skill in academic research careers. A doctoral degree (PhD) is the standard entry-level credential for independent research positions.
What Astronomers Do
- Design and conduct original experiments to test hypotheses
- Analyze experimental data using statistical methods and domain-specific tools
- Review and synthesize scientific literature relevant to the research area
- Write research papers, grant proposals, and technical reports
- Present findings at scientific conferences and institutional seminars
- Mentor and supervise graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, or technicians
- Collaborate with other scientists and engineers on interdisciplinary projects
- Maintain laboratory notebooks and ensure research reproducibility
Key Skills & Qualifications
- Deep domain expertise in relevant scientific field
- Experimental design including controls, replication, and statistical power
- Statistical analysis using R, Python, or specialized domain software
- Scientific writing for journal submission and grant applications
- Laboratory techniques specific to discipline
- Literature review and critical analysis of scientific evidence
- PhD in relevant scientific discipline
- Grant writing and funding acquisition
Career Path
- Research Associate / Lab Technician
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Research Scientist
- Senior Research Scientist / Principal Investigator
- Department Director / Chief Scientific Officer
Astronomers Market in Bellevue, NE
Salary Competitiveness
Bellevue currently pays 7% below the national median for Astronomers. This gap can reflect a lower regional cost base, thinner employer density, or a surplus of qualified candidates relative to open roles—factors worth factoring into any offer negotiation or relocation calculation.
Cost of Living Impact
Bellevue's cost of living runs below the national average, which works in favor of this salary. Essential monthly expenses account for approximately 29% of take-home pay—a ratio that leaves meaningful room for savings, debt reduction, and discretionary spending compared with higher-cost metros.
Effective Purchasing Power
After adjusting for local taxes and cost of living, a Astronomers earning $120,072 in Bellevue reaches a strong purchasing-power position. The effective standard of living this income supports is materially higher than the gross number alone implies—a useful data point for professionals comparing offers across metro areas.
vs. National Avg
-7%
Cost Pressure
29%
Purchasing Power
Strong
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.
Annual Net
$87,653
Monthly
$7,304
Weekly
$1,686
Eff. Tax Rate
27%
A gross salary of $120,072 for a Astronomers in Bellevue translates to roughly $7,304 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,124—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $5,180 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Bellevue's current market.
How far does this salary go in Bellevue?
Cost of Living in Bellevue
Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Bellevue, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.
Cost Index
82
Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).
Financial Reality Check
This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Bellevue to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.
Monthly Take-Home
$7,304
Living Costs
$2,124
Disposable
$5,180
Cost Index
82
Lifestyle
Comfortable
With a monthly take-home of $7,304, your estimated living costs in Bellevue are $2,124 ($25,488/yr). This leaves $5,180 per month in disposable income, indicating a comfortable standard of living. Bellevue's cost of living is 18% below the national average.
Overall, a Astronomers earning $120,072 in Bellevue falls into a comfortable lifestyle tier and has meaningful room to save, invest, and absorb unexpected expenses without financial stress. With a cost index of 82, Bellevue is 18% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Bellevue continue to evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare Instantly
See how Astronomers salary in Bellevue stacks up against other cities.
- vs. Cambridge, MA
$189,430/yr+$69,358
vs Bellevue - vs. Newton, MA
$189,430/yr+$69,358
vs Bellevue - vs. Boston, MA
$189,430/yr+$69,358
vs Bellevue - vs. Somerville, MA
$189,430/yr+$69,358
vs Bellevue
Full breakdown: cost of living, net pay, lifestyle score
Compare Cities
Same role, different locations
Related Jobs in Bellevue
Other roles in the same area
City Rankings for Astronomers
Share this salary
Gross Salary
$120,072/yr
Take-home
$7,304/mo
Disposable
$5,180/mo
Lifestyle
Comfortable
Source: thesalaryindex.com · BLS data
Bellevue City Overview
COL index, rent benchmarks, top jobs, and affordability score.
Explore Bellevue →Explore More Salary Data
Related pages — all links are live salary pages
Astronomers in Other Cities
- Hoboken, NJ$146,269
- Coeur D'Alene, ID$133,170
- Silver Spring, MD$151,181
- Frederick, MD$151,181
- Murray, UT$128,258
- Eau Claire, WI$123,346
- Tempe, AZ$134,808
- Cranston, RI$136,445
- Gulfport, MS$115,160
- Odessa, TX$121,709
- Commerce City, CO$140,538
- Scranton, PA$124,165
- Avondale, AZ$134,808
- Columbia, MD$151,181
- Laredo, TX$111,885
- Wilmington, DE$134,808
- Allen, TX$124,984
- Fall River, MA$189,430
- San Diego, CA$163,461
- Scottsdale, AZ$134,808
Other Jobs in Bellevue
- Anesthesiologists$187,957
- Bus Drivers$81,400
- Helpersbrickmasons$45,309
- Marine Engineers And Naval Architects$118,810
- Receptionists And Information Clerks$45,300
- Graphic Designers$54,454
- Funeral Attendants$42,570
- Sailors And Marine Oilers$50,610
- Landscaping And Groundskeeping Workers$47,310
- Bookkeeping$58,390
- Chiropractors$99,490
- Aircraft Mechanics And Service Technicians$86,010
- Aircraft Service Attendants$48,480
- Dining Room And Cafeteria Attendants And Bartender Helpers$42,170
- Budget Analysts$92,530
- Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians$59,310
- Butchers And Meat Cutters$36,475
- Counter And Rental Clerks$48,550
- Payroll And Timekeeping Clerks$50,705
- Inspectors$44,710
Top Salary Comparisons
vs. Bellevue
- Boston, MA+$69,358
- Lowell, MA+$69,358
- Renton, WA-$36,612
- Oxnard, CA+$32,746
- Fall River, MA+$69,358
- Richland, WA-$36,612
- Santa Rosa, CA+$31,928
- Federal Way, WA-$36,612
- Pearl City, HI+$49,120
- Washington, DC+$42,570
Highest-Paying Markets
Cities where Astronomers pays most
- Cambridge, MA$189,430
- Newton, MA$189,430
- Boston, MA$189,430
- Somerville, MA$189,430
- Medford, MA$189,430
- Quincy, MA$189,430
- Lowell, MA$189,430
- Lynn, MA$189,430
Most Affordable Markets
Cities with lowest cost of living
- Toledo, OH$110,248
- Brownsville, TX$110,248
- Mcallen, TX$124,984
- Topeka, KS$110,248
- Gulfport, MS$115,160
- Wichita Falls, TX$111,066
- Canton, OH$111,066
- Laredo, TX$111,885
Salary estimates are based on BLS metro data and adjusted using cost-of-living indices.