SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-1021.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $74,290 | $6,191 | $1,429 | $35.71 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $95,000 | $7,917 | $1,827 | $45.67 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $127,410 | $10,618 | $2,450 | $61.26 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $163,460 | $13,622 | $3,143 | $78.59 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $201,110 | $16,759 | $3,868 | $96.69 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $127,410, which is 150% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 5 by median pay. With 33,830 jobs, it makes up about 2.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Florida ($157,390), California ($139,580) and Tennessee ($134,560). The lowest was in Alabama ($48,510), Puerto Rico ($64,140) and Nebraska ($66,910). The most jobs were in Massachusetts (14,890), California (3,240) and Pennsylvania (2,750). The occupation is most concentrated in Massachusetts, where its share of all jobs is 18.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 370 | $157,390 | $157,820 | $75.67 |
| California | 3,240 | $139,580 | $148,550 | $67.11 |
| Tennessee | 60 | $134,560 | $150,580 | $64.69 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,750 | $134,090 | $137,680 | $64.47 |
| Connecticut | 540 | $132,670 | $136,300 | $63.78 |
| Massachusetts | 14,890 | $131,600 | $139,290 | $63.27 |
| New Jersey | 2,570 | $122,620 | $121,470 | $58.95 |
| District of Columbia | 70 | $120,090 | $121,400 | $57.74 |
| New Hampshire | 200 | $109,770 | $109,450 | $52.78 |
| Michigan | 730 | $109,340 | $110,590 | $52.57 |
| South Carolina | 60 | $109,080 | $110,710 | $52.44 |
| Wisconsin | 170 | $106,480 | $118,620 | $51.19 |
| Virginia | 70 | $105,780 | $126,950 | $50.86 |
| Delaware | 490 | $101,880 | $104,270 | $48.98 |
| Iowa | 140 | $101,090 | $96,820 | $48.60 |
| New York | 980 | $101,080 | $108,140 | $48.60 |
| Maryland | 690 | $100,650 | $104,090 | $48.39 |
| Washington | 270 | $98,840 | $98,000 | $47.52 |
| Kansas | 140 | $97,850 | $104,910 | $47.04 |
| Texas | 520 | $97,510 | $116,270 | $46.88 |
| Ohio | 350 | $90,000 | $93,360 | $43.27 |
| Illinois | 150 | $87,010 | $102,640 | $41.83 |
| Georgia | 110 | $85,680 | $110,160 | $41.19 |
| Maine | 390 | $84,560 | $97,060 | $40.66 |
| Arkansas | not published | $82,390 | $98,290 | $39.61 |
| North Carolina | 570 | $82,220 | $102,050 | $39.53 |
| Utah | 160 | $81,990 | $100,670 | $39.42 |
| Minnesota | 190 | $81,280 | $88,070 | $39.08 |
| Missouri | 290 | $79,550 | $90,910 | $38.25 |
| Rhode Island | not published | $76,710 | $84,670 | $36.88 |
| Kentucky | 40 | $74,710 | $97,830 | $35.92 |
| Nevada | not published | $69,220 | $87,750 | $33.28 |
| Oklahoma | 70 | $69,130 | $73,800 | $33.24 |
| Nebraska | 70 | $66,910 | $71,550 | $32.17 |
| Puerto Rico | 130 | $64,140 | $69,270 | $30.84 |
| Alabama | 90 | $48,510 | $64,020 | $23.32 |
| Colorado | 960 | not published | not published | not published |
| Vermont | 40 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Physicists$172,250 a year
- Political Scientists$142,080 a year
- Astronomers$128,820 a year
- Economists$124,720 a year
- Physical Scientists, All Other$122,570 a year
- Materials Scientists$117,790 a year
Common questions
How much do Biochemists and Biophysicists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $127,410 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,290 and the highest-paid 10% more than $201,110.
How many people work as Biochemists and Biophysicists?
About 33,830 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.