Average Salary for Biochemists and Biophysicists
SOC 19-1021 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists in the United States is $103,650 ($49.83/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $64,890 at the 10th percentile to $168,900 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 34,520 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 22% since 2014.
Median Annual
$103,650
Mean Annual
$115,570
10th Pct
$64,890
75th Pct
$134,460
Employment
34,520
Salary Distribution
$65k
10th
$79k
25th
$104k
Median
$134k
75th
$169k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $144,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $140,850 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $134,460 |
| Worcester, MA | $129,130 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $128,910 |
| New Haven, CT | $128,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $127,510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,830 |
| Boulder, CO | $126,800 |
| Rochester, NY | $113,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $110,460 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $107,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $107,730 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,420 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Florida | $148,880 |
| Arkansas | $143,490 |
| California | $130,240 |
| Massachusetts | $127,520 |
| Pennsylvania | $112,850 |
| Virginia | $109,230 |
| Washington | $107,730 |
| New Hampshire | $103,980 |
| New Jersey | $103,360 |
| Wisconsin | $102,380 |
| Oregon | $101,390 |
| Delaware | $101,120 |
| Maryland | $99,800 |
| Maine | $96,110 |
| New York | $95,410 |
| Texas | $94,560 |
| Tennessee | $92,470 |
| Ohio | $83,150 |
| Minnesota | $82,610 |
| South Carolina | $82,370 |
| Idaho | $80,710 |
| Illinois | $80,570 |
| Iowa | $80,370 |
| Utah | $78,260 |
| Rhode Island | $75,860 |
| Kentucky | $74,630 |
| Missouri | $72,600 |
| Nebraska | $69,170 |
| Michigan | $64,200 |
| Indiana | $63,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $60,470 |
| Alabama | $57,720 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $134,810 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $132,500 |
| Wholesale Trade | $132,500 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $132,490 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $126,100 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $126,100 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $109,790 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $109,790 |
| Temporary Help Services | $105,000 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $104,680 |
| Employment Services | $102,190 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $102,190 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $102,190 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $101,120 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $101,120 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $101,100 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $100,590 |
| Manufacturing | $99,970 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $98,070 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $97,850 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $97,850 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $97,620 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $95,410 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $95,410 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $95,410 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $87,470 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $86,420 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $86,420 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $86,420 |
| Engineering Services | $81,880 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | $79,250 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $78,810 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $78,810 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $78,810 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $77,800 |
| Educational Services | $77,160 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $77,160 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $69,570 |
| Food Manufacturing | $67,410 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $66,160 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $65,120 |
| Educational Services | $65,120 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $64,200 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $63,160 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $58,920 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $103,650 |
| 2023 | $107,460 |
| 2022 | $103,810 |
| 2021 | $102,270 |
| 2020 | $94,270 |
| 2019 | $94,490 |
| 2018 | $93,280 |
| 2017 | $91,190 |
| 2016 | $82,180 |
| 2015 | $82,150 |
| 2014 | $84,940 |