Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Top skills:ScienceReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingComplex Problem Solving
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay by experience level
Entry level$77,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$98,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$132,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$169,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$208,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,900
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
23,380 workers
$140,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
21,900 workers
$142,500
Chemical Manufacturing
6,110 workers
$126,500
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
5,910 workers
$127,500
Educational Services
1,640 workers
$92,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
1,630 workers
$93,000
Educational Services, State Government Owned
1,300 workers
$94,000
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
670 workers
$126,000
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing
670 workers
$126,000
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
650 workers
$72,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Biochemists and Biophysicists pays 34% above the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Biochemists and Biophysicists make?
The average base salary for a Biochemists and Biophysicists in the United States is $134,500 per year, or about $64.66 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $98,500 and $169,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Biochemists and Biophysicists pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
