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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.
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 |
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 |
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 | 8,250 | 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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
Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023