Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in the U.S.
Biochemists and Biophysicists in the U.S. earn a median of $127,410 a year ($61.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $201,110 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $129,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for biochemists and biophysicists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,290 | $35.71 |
| 25th percentile | $95,000 | $45.67 |
| Median | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| 75th percentile | $163,460 | $78.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $201,110 | $96.69 |
| Average (mean) | $129,840 | $62.43 |
Half of biochemists and biophysicists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,617.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,308.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,900.38 |
| Weekly | $2,450.19 |
| Hourly | $61.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $157,390 | 370 |
| California | $139,580 | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $134,560 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,090 | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $132,670 | 540 |
| Massachusetts | $131,600 | 14,890 |
| New Jersey | $122,620 | 2,570 |
| District of Columbia | $120,090 | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $109,770 | 200 |
| Michigan | $109,340 | 730 |
| South Carolina | $109,080 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $106,480 | 170 |
| Virginia | $105,780 | 70 |
| Delaware | $101,880 | 490 |
| Iowa | $101,090 | 140 |
| New York | $101,080 | 980 |
| Maryland | $100,650 | 690 |
| Washington | $98,840 | 270 |
| Kansas | $97,850 | 140 |
| Texas | $97,510 | 520 |
| Ohio | $90,000 | 350 |
| Illinois | $87,010 | 150 |
| Georgia | $85,680 | 110 |
| Maine | $84,560 | 390 |
| Arkansas | $82,390 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $82,220 | 570 |
| Utah | $81,990 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $81,280 | 190 |
| Missouri | $79,550 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $76,710 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $74,710 | 40 |
| Nevada | $69,220 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $69,130 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $66,910 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $64,140 | 130 |
| Alabama | $48,510 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for biochemists and biophysicists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $174,880 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $165,050 | 1,380 |
| Knoxville, TN | $149,140 | 30 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $145,550 | 50 |
| Boulder, CO | $140,710 | 390 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $139,740 | 80 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $135,320 | 150 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $134,090 | 3,050 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $131,700 | 580 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $131,550 | 13,370 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $130,670 | 160 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,490 | 30 |
| Worcester, MA | $125,420 | 1,060 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $125,020 | 140 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $124,300 | 520 |
Metro areas with the most biochemists and biophysicists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 13,370 | $131,550 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,050 | $134,090 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,200 | $109,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,380 | $165,050 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,060 | $125,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 710 | $121,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 580 | $131,700 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 520 | $124,300 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 490 | $103,660 |
| Boulder, CO | 390 | $140,710 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 380 | $84,490 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 260 | $87,650 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 210 | $98,650 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 210 | $79,550 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 190 | $77,710 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biochemists and biophysicists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for biochemists and biophysicists in the U.S. is $127,410 a year, or $61.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $201,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid biochemists and biophysicists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of biochemists and biophysicists in the U.S. earn at least $201,110 a year. The top 25% earn $163,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for biochemists and biophysicists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,290 a year, and a quarter of biochemists and biophysicists earn $95,000 or less.
How many biochemists and biophysicists work in the U.S.?
About 33,830 biochemists and biophysicists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.