Biochemists and Biophysicists
Biochemists and Biophysicists (SOC 19-1021) earn a median $127,410 a year ($61.26 an hour) in the United States, with 33,830 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Florida.
What biochemists and biophysicists do
Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemistry and physics of living things, from the reactions inside cells to the electrical and mechanical energy that organisms produce. Their research may examine metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity, and the effects that substances such as foods, drugs, and hormones have on living tissue. Typical tasks include designing and running laboratory experiments, studying the physical principles of living cells and organisms, and writing up findings in scientific articles or presenting them at conferences. Some also teach or advise undergraduate and graduate students, supervise their research, and manage laboratory teams while monitoring the quality of the team's work. The occupation differs from chemists, who study substances and reactions generally rather than those of living systems, and from medical scientists, who direct research on human disease and health. It also differs from microbiologists, who focus on microscopic organisms. Other work includes developing new methods to study biological processes, determining the three-dimensional structure of large biological molecules, and writing grant proposals to obtain research funding.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is postdoctoral training.
Also called: Biochemist, Biophysicist, Biological Chemist, Biochemistry Scientist, Analytical Research Chemist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $35.71 | $45.67 | $61.26 | $78.59 | $96.69 | $62.43 | 33,830 |
| Annual | $74,290 | $95,000 | $127,410 | $163,460 | $201,110 | $129,840 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where biochemists and biophysicists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $30.75 | $43.77 | $75.67 | $89.42 | $134.60 | $75.88 | 370 | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| Annual | $63,950 | $91,040 | $157,390 | $186,000 | $279,970 | $157,820 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $40.18 | $50.93 | $67.11 | $86.53 | $100.10 | $71.42 | 3,240 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $83,580 | $105,920 | $139,580 | $179,990 | $208,210 | $148,550 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $39.49 | $55.42 | $64.69 | $90.47 | $110.41 | $72.39 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $82,140 | $115,270 | $134,560 | $188,180 | $229,640 | $150,580 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $39.85 | $50.72 | $64.47 | $82.43 | $83.09 | $66.19 | 2,750 | 0.45 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $82,890 | $105,490 | $134,090 | $171,450 | $172,820 | $137,680 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $46.73 | $47.22 | $63.78 | $76.14 | $82.07 | $65.53 | 540 | 0.32 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $97,200 | $98,220 | $132,670 | $158,370 | $170,700 | $136,300 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $38.25 | $49.54 | $63.27 | $79.40 | $100.06 | $66.97 | 14,890 | 4.09 | 18.81 |
| Annual | $79,560 | $103,040 | $131,600 | $165,150 | $208,130 | $139,290 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $40.18 | $50.93 | $67.11 | $86.53 | $100.10 | $71.42 | 3,240 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $83,580 | $105,920 | $139,580 | $179,990 | $208,210 | $148,550 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $39.85 | $50.72 | $64.47 | $82.43 | $83.09 | $66.19 | 2,750 | 0.45 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $82,890 | $105,490 | $134,090 | $171,450 | $172,820 | $137,680 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $38.50 | $47.44 | $58.95 | $65.81 | $78.00 | $58.40 | 2,570 | 0.60 | 2.75 |
| Annual | $80,070 | $98,670 | $122,620 | $136,890 | $162,240 | $121,470 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $31.80 | $39.71 | $48.60 | $61.37 | $79.67 | $51.99 | 980 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $66,140 | $82,610 | $101,080 | $127,650 | $165,710 | $108,140 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Jacksonville, FL | Hourly | $48.59 | $76.84 | $84.08 | $84.08 | $100.09 | $81.83 | 40 | 0.05 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $101,060 | $159,840 | $174,880 | $174,880 | $208,190 | $170,200 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $50.18 | $64.41 | $79.35 | $96.34 | $107.57 | $81.08 | 1,380 | 0.58 | 2.67 |
| Annual | $104,380 | $133,980 | $165,050 | $200,380 | $223,740 | $168,650 | ||||
| Knoxville, TN | Hourly | $62.18 | $62.18 | $71.70 | $90.47 | $110.41 | $79.59 | 30 | 0.08 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $129,330 | $129,330 | $149,140 | $188,180 | $229,640 | $165,540 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $43.77 | $43.77 | $69.97 | $84.09 | $107.45 | $71.30 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $91,040 | $91,040 | $145,550 | $174,900 | $223,490 | $148,310 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $40.49 | $55.07 | $67.65 | $85.18 | $105.37 | $73.79 | 390 | 2.03 | 9.34 |
| Annual | $84,210 | $114,540 | $140,710 | $177,180 | $219,170 | $153,490 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $38.16 | $49.90 | $63.25 | $79.41 | $100.34 | $66.88 | 13,370 | 4.95 | 22.73 |
| Annual | $79,360 | $103,790 | $131,550 | $165,170 | $208,710 | $139,110 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $39.85 | $50.72 | $64.47 | $81.72 | $83.09 | $63.83 | 3,050 | 1.05 | 4.84 |
| Annual | $82,890 | $105,490 | $134,090 | $169,980 | $172,820 | $132,770 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $39.71 | $47.44 | $52.70 | $64.53 | $78.06 | $57.47 | 2,200 | 0.23 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $82,610 | $98,670 | $109,620 | $134,220 | $162,370 | $119,540 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $50.18 | $64.41 | $79.35 | $96.34 | $107.57 | $81.08 | 1,380 | 0.58 | 2.67 |
| Annual | $104,380 | $133,980 | $165,050 | $200,380 | $223,740 | $168,650 | ||||
| Worcester, MA | Hourly | $40.86 | $47.22 | $60.30 | $75.78 | $92.82 | $64.84 | 1,060 | 3.02 | 13.90 |
| Annual | $84,980 | $98,230 | $125,420 | $157,620 | $193,070 | $134,870 | ||||
Top industries employing biochemists and biophysicists
Scientific Research and Development Services employ 64.7% of biochemists and biophysicists nationally (21,900 jobs) at a median $131,910 a year ($63.42 an hour), followed by Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (17.5%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (4.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 21,900 | 64.7% | $131,910 | $63.42 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing NAICS 325400 | 5,910 | 17.5% | $109,030 | $52.42 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,630 | 4.8% | $75,120 | $36.12 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing NAICS 334500 | 670 | 2.0% | $109,100 | $52.45 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 650 | 1.9% | $62,970 | $30.27 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (33,830). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $102,270 for biochemists and biophysicists in May 2021 and $127,410 in May 2025, with employment of 35,050 and 33,830.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $102,270 | $49.17 | 35,050 |
| May 2022 | $103,810 | $49.91 | 32,500 |
| May 2023 | $107,460 | $51.66 | 33,180 |
| May 2024 | $103,650 | $49.83 | 34,520 |
| May 2025 | $127,410 | $61.26 | 33,830 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
37 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida profile | $75.67 | $157,390 | $63,950 | $279,970 | 370 | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| 2 | California profile | $67.11 | $139,580 | $83,580 | $208,210 | 3,240 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| 3 | Tennessee profile | $64.69 | $134,560 | $82,140 | $229,640 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania profile | $64.47 | $134,090 | $82,890 | $172,820 | 2,750 | 0.45 | 2.08 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $63.78 | $132,670 | $97,200 | $170,700 | 540 | 0.32 | 1.47 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $63.27 | $131,600 | $79,560 | $208,130 | 14,890 | 4.09 | 18.81 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $58.95 | $122,620 | $80,070 | $162,240 | 2,570 | 0.60 | 2.75 |
| 8 | District of Columbia profile | $57.74 | $120,090 | $62,080 | $182,100 | 70 | 0.09 | 0.43 |
| 9 | New Hampshire profile | $52.78 | $109,770 | $73,240 | $139,380 | 200 | 0.29 | 1.33 |
| 10 | Michigan profile | $52.57 | $109,340 | $58,580 | $142,350 | 730 | 0.17 | 0.76 |
| 11 | South Carolina profile | $52.44 | $109,080 | $70,270 | $149,130 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | $51.19 | $106,480 | $85,730 | $146,380 | 170 | 0.06 | 0.26 |
| 13 | Virginia profile | $50.86 | $105,780 | $74,640 | $221,880 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| 14 | Delaware profile | $48.98 | $101,880 | $62,210 | $155,080 | 490 | 1.00 | 4.62 |
| 15 | Iowa profile | $48.60 | $101,090 | $65,950 | $136,840 | 140 | 0.09 | 0.41 |
| 16 | New York profile | $48.60 | $101,080 | $66,140 | $165,710 | 980 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| 17 | Maryland profile | $48.39 | $100,650 | $65,510 | $159,330 | 690 | 0.25 | 1.15 |
| 18 | Washington profile | $47.52 | $98,840 | $64,010 | $128,040 | 270 | 0.08 | 0.34 |
| 19 | Kansas profile | $47.04 | $97,850 | $63,550 | $153,340 | 140 | 0.10 | 0.44 |
| 20 | Texas profile | $46.88 | $97,510 | $61,820 | $222,850 | 520 | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| 21 | Ohio profile | $43.27 | $90,000 | $58,580 | $138,490 | 350 | 0.06 | 0.29 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $41.83 | $87,010 | $60,060 | $173,140 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| 23 | Georgia profile | $41.19 | $85,680 | $77,280 | $228,170 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.10 |
| 24 | Maine profile | $40.66 | $84,560 | $66,570 | $132,830 | 390 | 0.61 | 2.80 |
| 25 | Arkansas profile | $39.61 | $82,390 | $65,030 | $152,020 | ** | ** | ** |
| 26 | North Carolina profile | $39.53 | $82,220 | $62,850 | $160,940 | 570 | 0.12 | 0.53 |
| 27 | Utah profile | $39.42 | $81,990 | $49,870 | $157,320 | 160 | 0.10 | 0.44 |
| 28 | Minnesota profile | $39.08 | $81,280 | $62,370 | $126,930 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.30 |
| 29 | Missouri profile | $38.25 | $79,550 | $64,760 | $132,420 | 290 | 0.10 | 0.45 |
| 30 | Rhode Island profile | $36.88 | $76,710 | $64,550 | $135,980 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | Kentucky profile | $35.92 | $74,710 | $57,020 | $199,580 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 32 | Nevada profile | $33.28 | $69,220 | $42,050 | $149,430 | ** | ** | ** |
| 33 | Oklahoma profile | $33.24 | $69,130 | $51,750 | $101,100 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.18 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $32.17 | $66,910 | $51,470 | $89,240 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.31 |
| 35 | Alabama profile | $23.32 | $48,510 | $47,090 | $85,520 | 90 | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| – | Colorado profile | * | * | * | * | 960 | 0.33 | 1.53 |
| – | Vermont profile | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.14 | 0.63 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-1021 Biochemists and Biophysicists.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-1021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-1021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.