Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 34K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$127,410
Median hourly
$61
Average annual
$129,840
Typical range
$74,290–$201,110
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $127,410 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $61 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $74,290 and $201,110 a year. There are roughly 34K people employed as biochemists and biophysicists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Biochemists and Biophysicists.
- Hourly
- $61.25
- Daily
- $490
- Weekly
- $2,450
- Bi-weekly
- $4,900
- Monthly
- $10,618
- Annual
- $127,410
$127,410 a year is around the 50th percentile for Biochemists and Biophysicistss. The median is $127,410.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Florida$157,390
- 2California$139,580
- 3Tennessee$134,560
- 4Pennsylvania$134,090
- 5Connecticut$132,670
- 6Massachusetts$131,600
- 7New Jersey$122,620
- 8District of Columbia$120,090
- 9New Hampshire$109,770
- 10Michigan$109,340
- 11South Carolina$109,080
- 12Wisconsin$106,480
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Jacksonville, FL$174,880
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$165,050
- 3Knoxville, TN$149,140
- 4Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$145,550
- 5Boulder, CO$140,710
- 6Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$139,740
- 7Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$135,320
- 8Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$134,090
- 9Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$131,700
- 10Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$131,550
- 11Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$130,670
- 12Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$129,490
Related job titles
Employers advertise Biochemists and Biophysicists roles under these titles.
- Analytical Research Chemist
- Biochemist
- Biochemistry Scientist
- Biological Chemist
- Biophysicist
- Biophysics Researcher
- Clinical Biochemist
- Forensic Toxicologist
- Formulation Scientist
- Physical Biochemist
- Protein Biochemist
- Protein Biochemistry Scientist
- R&D Scientist (Research and Development Scientist)
- Research Biochemist
Related occupations
What a Biochemists and Biophysicists does
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Biochemists and Biophysicists make?
- The median annual wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $127,410 ($61 per hour). Pay ranges from about $74,290 at the 10th percentile to $201,110 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Biochemists and Biophysicists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $129,840, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Biochemists and Biophysicistss the most?
- Florida has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $157,390.
- Is Biochemists and Biophysicists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 34K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Biochemists and Biophysicists do?
- 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..