Biochemists and Biophysicists Career, Salary and Skills
Biochemists and Biophysicists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $127,410 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 33,830. Wage data is published for 83 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
19-1021.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Post-Doctoral Training
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$127,410
Hourly median
$61.26
Employment
33,830
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.75 | 5.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.38 | 5.25 |
| Writing | 4.25 | 5.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.25 | 5.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.62 |
| Active Learning | 4.12 | 5.25 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.00 | 4.25 |
Typical tasks
- Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
- Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
- Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
- Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
- Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
- Design or perform experiments with equipment, such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers.
- Examine the molecular or chemical aspects of immune system functioning.
Technology
- 3D graphics software
- Accelrys Cerius2
- Accelrys FELIX
- Accelrys Insight II
- Accelrys QAUNTA
- Adobe Photoshop
- Analysis and building software
- Assisted model building with energy refinement AMBER
- AutoQuant AutoDeblur
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- Carrier-mediated transport software
- Chang Bioscience ToolKit
- ChemInnovation Software Chem 4-D
- Chemistry at Harvard Molecular Mechanics CHARMm
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in MAMedian $131,600 · Employment 14,890
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in Boston, MAMedian $131,550 · Employment 13,370
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in CAMedian $139,580 · Employment 3,240
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $134,090 · Employment 3,050
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in PAMedian $134,090 · Employment 2,750
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in NJMedian $122,620 · Employment 2,570
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in New York, NYMedian $109,620 · Employment 2,200
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $165,050 · Employment 1,380
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in Worcester, MAMedian $125,420 · Employment 1,060
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in NYMedian $101,080 · Employment 980
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in MIMedian $109,340 · Employment 730
- Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in San Diego, CAMedian $121,740 · Employment 710
Related careers
- Histology TechniciansNational median not published
- HistotechnologistsNational median not published
- Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $93,250
- Data ScientistsNational median $120,230
- Nanosystems EngineersNational median $122,930
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $66,120
- Cytogenetic TechnologistsNational median not published
- BiologistsNational median $98,920
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.