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Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in Chicago, IL

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Biochemists and Biophysicists in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $85,780, with 170 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $54,930 at the 10th percentile to $173,140 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$85,780

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$41.24

Employment

170

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$54,930
10th
$63,730
25th
$85,780
Median
$128,020
75th
$173,140
90th

Local compared with national

Chicago, IL

$85,780

Median annual · 2025

United States

$127,410

Median annual · 2025

The Chicago, IL median is 32.7% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $41,630).

Top skills

  1. 1.ScienceImportance 4.8
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.4
  3. 3.WritingImportance 4.3
  4. 4.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.3
  5. 5.Active ListeningImportance 4.1
  6. 6.SpeakingImportance 4.1
  7. 7.Active LearningImportance 4.1
  8. 8.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.1
  9. 9.Learning StrategiesImportance 4.0
  10. 10.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 4.0
  11. 11.MathematicsImportance 3.9
  12. 12.MonitoringImportance 3.9

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Post-Doctoral Training
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Job zone
5

Technology used

  • 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
  • Crystallography & NMR System (CNS)

Common 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.
  • Determine the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules.
  • Design or build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in other locations

Other occupations in Chicago, IL