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Biochemist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$127,410median pay per year, or $61.26 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $74,290lowest 10% earn less
  2. $95,00025th percentile
  3. $127,410median
  4. $163,46075th percentile
  5. $201,110top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Biochemists and biophysicists earned a median of $127,410 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 12.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+12.3%[2]
Openings per year
2,900[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[7]

How much do biochemists make?

The median wage for biochemists and biophysicists was $127,410 a year, or $61.26 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was $129,840 a year, or $62.43 an hour[8]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[5].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,290 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $95,000[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $163,460, and the top 10% earned more than $201,110[4]. Hourly, those boundaries were $35.71, $45.67, $78.59 and $96.69[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $74,290 $35.71
25th percentile[4][9] $95,000 $45.67
Median[1] $127,410 $61.26
75th percentile[4][9] $163,460 $78.59
90th percentile[4][9] $201,110 $96.69

About 33,830 people worked as biochemists and biophysicists in wage and salary jobs[11]. These figures leave out the self-employed and business owners. They also leave out nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12]. In the Employment Projections data, which does include the self-employed, 2.7% of workers were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

Florida had the highest median annual wage at $157,390, though it had only 370 jobs[14]. California was next at $139,580 and Tennessee third at $134,560[14]. Alabama had the lowest published median at $48,510[14].

Jobs are concentrated. Massachusetts had 14,890, far more than California (3,240), Pennsylvania (2,750), New Jersey (2,570) or New York (980)[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[16], San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $165,050. Boulder ($140,710) and Norwich-New London-Willimantic ($135,320) followed[16]. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton area had the most jobs, at 13,370, with a median of $131,550[17].

Show median pay in 34 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Florida[14]$157,390370
California$139,5803,240
Tennessee$134,56060
Pennsylvania$134,0902,750
Connecticut$132,670540
Massachusetts$131,60014,890
New Jersey$122,6202,570
District of Columbia$120,09070
New Hampshire$109,770200
Michigan$109,340730
South Carolina$109,08060
Wisconsin$106,480170
Virginia$105,78070
Delaware$101,880490
Iowa$101,090140
New York$101,080980
Maryland$100,650690
Washington$98,840270
Kansas$97,850140
Texas$97,510520
Ohio$90,000350
Illinois$87,010150
Georgia$85,680110
Maine$84,560390
Arkansas$82,390n/a
North Carolina$82,220570
Utah$81,990160
Minnesota$81,280190
Missouri$79,550290
Rhode Island$76,710n/a
Kentucky$74,71040
Nevada$69,220n/a
Oklahoma$69,13070
Nebraska$66,91070
Alabama$48,51090

How to become a biochemist

People with a bachelor's or master's degree are qualified for some entry-level positions[20]. Master's study is generally seen as good preparation for hands-on lab work[21].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 40% said post-doctoral training was required, 25% said a bachelor's degree, 25% said a doctoral degree and 10% said a first professional degree[24].

The OOH lists analytical, communication, critical-thinking, interpersonal and math skills, as well as perseverance, as important qualities[25][26][27][28][29][30].

What biochemists do

O*NET describes the job as studying the chemistry and physical principles of living cells and organisms. Some biochemists also test how foods, drugs, hormones and other substances affect living tissue[31]. Common tasks include:

Workers in the O*NET listing report job titles such as Biochemist, Biophysics Researcher and Scientist[33].

Where they work

Scientific research and development services employed 61% of biochemists and biophysicists in 2025, the largest share of any employer type listed[34]. Most of the work happens in laboratories and offices, where people run experiments and analyze results. Those who handle dangerous organisms or toxic substances follow safety procedures[35].

Most biochemists and biophysicists work on teams, often with experts from physics, chemistry, computer science and engineering[36]. Those in biological research produce large amounts of data and work with bioinformaticians[36]. At some biotech companies, researchers help sell products, which may involve a lot of travel. This may be more common at smaller companies[37].

Most work full time with regular hours, and may need extra hours to meet deadlines or run time-sensitive experiments[38].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of biochemists and biophysicists to grow 12.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 35,200 jobs to 39,500[2]. That is a gain of about 4,300 jobs[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3].

About 2,900 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people leave the occupation, not only new positions[6]. Each year, 1.6% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[39].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupations median, at $127,410 compared with $50,980[1][5]. Employment is projected to grow faster than average[2][3]. The tradeoff is the education. The typical entry level is a doctoral or professional degree, and many Ph.D. holders start in temporary postdoctoral roles[7][22]. The work involves research, writing, teamwork and sometimes teaching[32][36]. Jobs are concentrated in a few states, with Massachusetts far ahead on job count[15].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a biochemist make a year?
The median annual wage for biochemists and biophysicists was $127,410 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $74,290 and the 90th percentile was $201,110[4].
What degree do you need to be a biochemist?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7]. The OOH says a Ph.D. is needed for independent research jobs, and bachelor's and master's holders are qualified for some entry-level positions[20].
Is biochemistry in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 12.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 2,900 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for biochemists?
Florida had the highest median annual wage at $157,390, followed by California at $139,580[14]. Massachusetts had the most jobs[15].
How much does a biochemist make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $61.26 in May 2025[1].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists in the US was $127,410 per year and $61.26 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Biochemists and Biophysicists is projected to grow 12.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 35,200 to 39,500 jobs (a change of +4,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Biochemists and Biophysicists: 10th percentile $74,290, 25th percentile $95,000, 75th percentile $163,460, 90th percentile $201,110. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,900 openings for Biochemists and Biophysicists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Biochemists and Biophysicists: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists was $129,840 per year and $62.43 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Biochemists and Biophysicists: 10th percentile $35.71, 25th percentile $45.67, 75th percentile $78.59, 90th percentile $96.69. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 33,830 people were employed as Biochemists and Biophysicists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 2.7% of Biochemists and Biophysicists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Biochemists and Biophysicists jobs: Massachusetts 14,890; California 3,240; Pennsylvania 2,750; New Jersey 2,570; New York 980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $165,050; Boulder, CO $140,710; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $135,320; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $134,090; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $131,700; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $131,550; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $130,670; Worcester, MA $125,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Biochemists and Biophysicists jobs: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 13,370 (median $131,550); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 3,050 (median $134,090); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,200 (median $109,620); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,380 (median $165,050); Worcester, MA 1,060 (median $125,420); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 710 (median $121,740). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 19-1021.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Doctoral Training 40%, Bachelor's Degree 25%, Doctoral Degree 25%, First Professional Degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. O*NET description of Biochemists and Biophysicists. O*NET OnLine
  32. O*NET task list for Biochemists and Biophysicists. O*NET OnLine
  33. O*NET 19-1021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Analytical Research Chemist, Biochemist, Biophysics Researcher, Scientist. O*NET OnLine
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of biochemists and biophysicists in 2025: Scientific research and development services 61%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  39. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Biochemists and Biophysicists: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  40. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.