Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
19-1021 Biochemists and Biophysicists
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.
National estimates for Biochemists and Biophysicists
Industry profile for Biochemists and Biophysicists
Geographic profile for Biochemists and Biophysicists
National estimates for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Employment (1) |
Employment
RSE (3) |
Mean hourly
wage |
Mean annual
wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
| 35,050 |
6.7 % |
$ 54.55 |
$ 113,460 |
2.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 29.37 |
$ 37.98 |
$ 49.17 |
$ 63.65 |
$ 80.39 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 61,090 |
$ 79,000 |
$ 102,270 |
$ 132,390 |
$ 167,210 |
Industry profile for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Biochemists and Biophysicists are provided.
For a list of all industries with employment in Biochemists and Biophysicists, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
20,530 |
2.58 |
$ 58.32 |
$ 121,310 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
5,400 |
1.72 |
$ 47.35 |
$ 98,490 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
1,860 |
0.06 |
$ 31.76 |
$ 66,060 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
940 |
0.06 |
$ 46.12 |
$ 95,930 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
540 |
0.14 |
$ 45.01 |
$ 93,630 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
20,530 |
2.58 |
$ 58.32 |
$ 121,310 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
5,400 |
1.72 |
$ 47.35 |
$ 98,490 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
540 |
0.14 |
$ 45.01 |
$ 93,630 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) |
400 |
0.11 |
$ 38.11 |
$ 79,280 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories |
270 |
0.09 |
$ 43.42 |
$ 90,310 |
Top paying industries for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
Geographic profile for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Biochemists and Biophysicists are provided.
For a list of all areas with employment in Biochemists and Biophysicists, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Massachusetts |
8,190 |
2.41 |
9.70 |
$ 64.46 |
$ 134,090 |
| California |
7,460 |
0.45 |
1.81 |
$ 56.36 |
$ 117,220 |
| New Jersey |
3,160 |
0.82 |
3.30 |
$ 57.04 |
$ 118,640 |
| Pennsylvania |
2,350 |
0.42 |
1.69 |
$ 53.27 |
$ 110,790 |
| New York |
1,260 |
0.15 |
0.58 |
$ 44.37 |
$ 92,280 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Massachusetts |
8,190 |
2.41 |
9.70 |
$ 64.46 |
$ 134,090 |
| Delaware |
420 |
0.96 |
3.86 |
$ 47.26 |
$ 98,290 |
| New Jersey |
3,160 |
0.82 |
3.30 |
$ 57.04 |
$ 118,640 |
| Maine |
400 |
0.67 |
2.69 |
$ 38.49 |
$ 80,060 |
| Minnesota |
1,240 |
0.45 |
1.83 |
$ 48.11 |
$ 100,070 |
Top paying states for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Massachusetts |
8,190 |
2.41 |
9.70 |
$ 64.46 |
$ 134,090 |
| Virginia |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 63.06 |
$ 131,160 |
| Colorado |
1,020 |
0.39 |
1.57 |
$ 57.17 |
$ 118,920 |
| New Jersey |
3,160 |
0.82 |
3.30 |
$ 57.04 |
$ 118,640 |
| Oregon |
170 |
0.09 |
0.37 |
$ 56.89 |
$ 118,320 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
7,640 |
2.95 |
11.87 |
$ 64.94 |
$ 135,070 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
3,210 |
1.43 |
5.76 |
$ 62.26 |
$ 129,490 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
3,100 |
0.36 |
1.44 |
$ 54.96 |
$ 114,310 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
2,440 |
0.92 |
3.69 |
$ 52.44 |
$ 109,070 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA |
2,230 |
1.61 |
6.46 |
$ 52.56 |
$ 109,320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI |
1,140 |
0.62 |
2.51 |
$ 48.94 |
$ 101,800 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
780 |
0.14 |
0.55 |
$ 49.24 |
$ 102,430 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
550 |
0.52 |
2.08 |
$ 56.75 |
$ 118,040 |
| Trenton, NJ |
480 |
2.11 |
8.49 |
$ 59.12 |
$ 122,970 |
| Worcester, MA-CT |
430 |
1.58 |
6.37 |
$ 59.21 |
$ 123,150 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
7,640 |
2.95 |
11.87 |
$ 64.94 |
$ 135,070 |
| Trenton, NJ |
480 |
2.11 |
8.49 |
$ 59.12 |
$ 122,970 |
| Boulder, CO |
380 |
2.07 |
8.31 |
$ 49.01 |
$ 101,940 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME |
370 |
1.87 |
7.53 |
$ 38.56 |
$ 80,190 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA |
2,230 |
1.61 |
6.46 |
$ 52.56 |
$ 109,320 |
| Worcester, MA-CT |
430 |
1.58 |
6.37 |
$ 59.21 |
$ 123,150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
3,210 |
1.43 |
5.76 |
$ 62.26 |
$ 129,490 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX |
110 |
1.01 |
4.04 |
$ 33.69 |
$ 70,070 |
| Ames, IA |
40 |
0.95 |
3.83 |
$ 36.40 |
$ 75,710 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
2,440 |
0.92 |
3.69 |
$ 52.44 |
$ 109,070 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Biochemists and Biophysicists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
7,640 |
2.95 |
11.87 |
$ 64.94 |
$ 135,070 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 64.19 |
$ 133,520 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO |
400 |
0.27 |
1.10 |
$ 64.13 |
$ 133,390 |
| Richmond, VA |
230 |
0.38 |
1.51 |
$ 63.20 |
$ 131,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
3,210 |
1.43 |
5.76 |
$ 62.26 |
$ 129,490 |
| Worcester, MA-CT |
430 |
1.58 |
6.37 |
$ 59.21 |
$ 123,150 |
| Trenton, NJ |
480 |
2.11 |
8.49 |
$ 59.12 |
$ 122,970 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA |
50 |
0.13 |
0.52 |
$ 58.13 |
$ 120,920 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 57.78 |
$ 120,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
550 |
0.52 |
2.08 |
$ 56.75 |
$ 118,040 |
About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.
The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall.
The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median.
More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours;
for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration.
A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022
United States Department of Labor
