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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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)
32,500 5.4 % $ 55.16 $ 114,740 1.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Biochemists and Biophysicists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 29.59 $ 37.84 $ 49.91 $ 64.02 $ 82.22
Annual Wage (2) $ 61,540 $ 78,700 $ 103,810 $ 133,150 $ 171,010


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 19,370 2.23 $ 58.47 $ 121,620
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 5,950 1.79 $ 48.98 $ 101,880
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,760 0.06 $ 32.39 $ 67,380
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 860 0.05 $ 42.70 $ 88,810
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) 810 0.21 $ 70.84 $ 147,340

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 19,370 2.23 $ 58.47 $ 121,620
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 5,950 1.79 $ 48.98 $ 101,880
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) 810 0.21 $ 70.84 $ 147,340
Animal Food Manufacturing 70 0.10 $ 20.12 $ 41,860
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 260 0.08 $ 47.12 $ 98,010

Top paying industries for Biochemists and Biophysicists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Physicians 50 (7) $ 87.25 $ 181,490
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) 810 0.21 $ 70.84 $ 147,340
Management of Companies and Enterprises 250 0.01 $ 70.35 $ 146,330
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8) (8) $ 62.90 $ 130,840
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 190 0.05 $ 59.76 $ 124,300


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.



Map of employment of biochemists and biophysicists by state, May 2022


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 8,250 2.31 10.53 $ 56.65 $ 117,830
California 7,750 0.44 2.00 $ 65.01 $ 135,220
New Jersey 2,410 0.59 2.67 $ 56.20 $ 116,900
Pennsylvania 2,100 0.36 1.64 $ 53.40 $ 111,060
New York 1,290 0.14 0.65 $ 51.96 $ 108,070


Map of location quotient of biochemists and biophysicists by state, May 2022


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 8,250 2.31 10.53 $ 56.65 $ 117,830
Delaware 430 0.95 4.33 $ 47.11 $ 97,980
Maine 390 0.64 2.93 $ 39.51 $ 82,190
New Jersey 2,410 0.59 2.67 $ 56.20 $ 116,900
California 7,750 0.44 2.00 $ 65.01 $ 135,220


Map of annual mean wages of biochemists and biophysicists by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Biochemists and Biophysicists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 7,750 0.44 2.00 $ 65.01 $ 135,220
Indiana 170 0.05 0.25 $ 64.91 $ 135,020
Virginia (8) (8) (8) $ 61.73 $ 128,390
Massachusetts 8,250 2.31 10.53 $ 56.65 $ 117,830
New Jersey 2,410 0.59 2.67 $ 56.20 $ 116,900



Map of employment of biochemists and biophysicists by area, May 2022


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 7,670 2.84 12.90 $ 56.99 $ 118,550
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,660 1.53 6.96 $ 62.82 $ 130,660
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,460 0.27 1.22 $ 55.09 $ 114,580
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 2,130 0.77 3.51 $ 53.65 $ 111,600
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,910 0.63 2.87 $ 58.53 $ 121,740
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1,890 1.27 5.78 $ 59.67 $ 124,110
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 820 0.43 1.98 $ 48.36 $ 100,580
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 780 0.13 0.58 $ 57.21 $ 119,010
Boulder, CO 420 2.20 10.02 $ 50.13 $ 104,260
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 420 0.37 1.69 $ 66.91 $ 139,180


Map of location quotient of biochemists and biophysicists by area, May 2022


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 7,670 2.84 12.90 $ 56.99 $ 118,550
Boulder, CO 420 2.20 10.02 $ 50.13 $ 104,260
Portland-South Portland, ME 370 1.81 8.25 $ 39.48 $ 82,120
Trenton, NJ 370 1.58 7.18 $ 60.40 $ 125,630
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,660 1.53 6.96 $ 62.82 $ 130,660
Worcester, MA-CT 370 1.32 6.02 $ 48.75 $ 101,390
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1,890 1.27 5.78 $ 59.67 $ 124,110
Ames, IA 40 0.84 3.81 $ 34.57 $ 71,910
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 2,130 0.77 3.51 $ 53.65 $ 111,600
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,910 0.63 2.87 $ 58.53 $ 121,740


Map of annual mean wages of biochemists and biophysicists by area, May 2022


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)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 420 0.37 1.69 $ 66.91 $ 139,180
Rochester, NY 40 0.08 0.38 $ 64.45 $ 134,050
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 150 0.14 0.66 $ 62.86 $ 130,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,660 1.53 6.96 $ 62.82 $ 130,660
Trenton, NJ 370 1.58 7.18 $ 60.40 $ 125,630
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1,890 1.27 5.78 $ 59.67 $ 124,110
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 40 0.39 1.78 $ 59.29 $ 123,320
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,910 0.63 2.87 $ 58.53 $ 121,740
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 110 0.09 0.41 $ 57.91 $ 120,450
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 70 0.22 0.99 $ 57.61 $ 119,830

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Biochemists and Biophysicists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 60 0.59 2.69 $ 49.90 $ 103,790

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Biochemists and Biophysicists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 60 0.59 2.69 $ 49.90 $ 103,790

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Biochemists and Biophysicists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 60 0.59 2.69 $ 49.90 $ 103,790


About May 2022 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.

(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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023