Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 19-1021 · National · May 2024 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$103,646
$49.83/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated Apr 3, 2025
Source: BLS OEWS · Published Apr 2, 2025
Next refresh: May 15, 2026
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The national median salary for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $103,646 per year ($49.83/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024. The middle 50% of earners make between $78,728 and $134,451 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $168,896 per year. There are approximately 34,520 biochemists and biophysicists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+5.8%
Faster than average
Annual openings
3K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
36K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
7% from new growth93% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Scientific Research and Development Services
NAICS 541700
20K
$126,100
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
NAICS 325400
7K
$101,100
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
NAICS 611300
2K
$65,120
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
NAICS 541300
1K
$69,570
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
NAICS 541600
830
$58,920
Wage range across top 5 industries: $58,920 to $126,100 (114% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$31.20
$64,896
P25
$37.85
$78,728
P50MEDIAN
$49.83
$103,646
P75
$64.64
$134,451
P90
$81.20
$168,896
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · professional sector
Cooling
Openings Rate
4.2%
Quits Rate
2.0%
Professional & Business Services openings tumbled 318K in March -- the largest single-sector drop in this release. Openings rate fell from 5.5% to 4.2%. Layoffs jumped to 527K (+99K). White-collar demand has cooled abruptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average biochemists and biophysicists salary?
The national median salary for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $103,646 per year ($49.83/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. The middle 50% earn between $78,728 and $134,451 annually.
How much do top-earning biochemists and biophysicists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $168,896 per year ($81.20/hr). The 75th percentile is $134,451 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists?
Entry-level Biochemists and Biophysicists (10th percentile) earn approximately $64,896 per year ($31.20/hr). The 25th percentile is $78,728 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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