Careers / Biochemists and Biophysicists
Biochemists and Biophysicists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$127,410
United States, 2025
Employment
33,830
United States, 2025
Typical education
Post-Doctoral Training
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical tasks
- Examine the molecular or chemical aspects of immune system functioning.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$74,290
25th percentile
$95,000
75th percentile
$163,460
90th percentile
$201,110
Most important skills
- Science4.8
- Reading Comprehension4.4
- Critical Thinking4.3
- Writing4.3
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning4.1
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Mathematics3.9
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 21 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
21
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.8 | 5.1 | Not selected | 5.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.4 | 5.3 | Not selected | 5.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.3 | 5.1 | Not selected | 5.1 |
| Writing | 4.3 | 5.1 | Not selected | 5.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.1 | 5.3 | Not selected | 5.3 |
| Speaking | 4.1 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.9 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Instructing | 3.6 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median not published
Compare with Biochemists and BiophysicistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with Biochemists and BiophysicistsSupplemental
National median $93,250
Compare with Biochemists and BiophysicistsSupplemental
National median $66,120
Compare with Biochemists and BiophysicistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with Biochemists and BiophysicistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with Biochemists and BiophysicistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $174,880 | 40 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $165,050 | 1,380 | 2025 |
| FL | $157,390 | 370 | 2025 |
| Knoxville, TN | $149,140 | 30 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | $145,550 | 50 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | $140,710 | 390 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $139,740 | 80 | 2025 |
| CA | $139,580 | 3,240 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | $135,320 | 150 | 2025 |
| TN | $134,560 | 60 | 2025 |
| PA | $134,090 | 2,750 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $134,090 | 3,050 | 2025 |
| CT | $132,670 | 540 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $131,700 | 580 | 2025 |
| MA | $131,600 | 14,890 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $131,550 | 13,370 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | $130,670 | 160 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $129,490 | 30 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | $125,420 | 1,060 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $125,020 | 140 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Biochemists and Biophysicists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.