Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Biochemists and biophysicists focus on understanding the chemical and physical principles of living things, supported by a strong foundation in science, mathematics, and technology. This career typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting its advanced, research‑intensive nature. Nationally, there are about 36,000 biochemists and biophysicists, with a projected employment growth rate of 5.8% and approximately 3,000 annual openings. These figures suggest a steady flow of opportunities for both new graduates and experienced professionals. The national median annual salary of $103,650 indicates strong earning potential, with some states and metro areas offering even higher median pay. Success in this field draws heavily on critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, and attention to detail, while also rewarding creativity, innovation, and adaptability. For students, job seekers, and career changers interested in an advanced scientific path, biochemistry and biophysics offer a combination of rigorous education, specialized skills, and diverse geographic options.
Biochemists and biophysicists earn a national median annual salary of $103,650, signaling strong income potential for a science-focused career requiring advanced education. Salaries vary by location, with several states and metro areas offering notably higher median pay. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $139,580, followed by Massachusetts at $131,600. New York, Virginia, and Washington also provide six‑figure or near‑six‑figure medians, ranging from $98,840 to $105,780. At the metro level, San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $165,050, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA‑NH and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA offer medians of $131,550 and $124,050, respectively. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY‑NJ metro also exceeds the national median at $109,620. These figures show that earnings for biochemists and biophysicists can differ considerably by region, giving professionals room to weigh compensation alongside other career factors.
Biochemists and biophysicists have a national employment base of about 36,000 positions, with projected employment growth of 5.8%. This projected growth, combined with approximately 3,000 annual openings, points to ongoing demand across new and replacement positions. The consistent 5.8% growth rate reported for the top states and metro areas suggests a broadly similar outlook in multiple regions rather than sharp regional differences in projected expansion. For individuals planning an advanced scientific career, these numbers indicate that opportunities are not limited to a single state or city. Instead, biochemistry and biophysics roles appear across a range of locations, from large metros like New York–Newark–Jersey City and Boston–Cambridge–Newton to smaller employment centers. For students and professionals considering long‑term prospects, the combination of an established employment base, measurable projected growth, and recurring annual openings makes this field a structured option to plan around.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for biochemists and biophysicists. Among states, California and Massachusetts both combine high median salaries and substantial employment with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores (67.38 and 65.87). California reports a median salary of $139,580 with 3,240 employed, while Massachusetts shows $131,600 with a notably larger employment base of 14,890. New York offers a median salary of $101,080 and 980 employed, with an opportunity score similar to Massachusetts. Washington and Virginia have smaller employment counts (270 and 70) but still show strong salaries and opportunity scores above 50. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY‑NJ have the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27), indicating particularly strong combinations of salary, growth, and employment. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA stands out for its $165,050 median salary, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA‑NH offers both a high median salary and large employment of 13,370. These differences allow professionals to choose between higher‑pay, high‑score metros and broader employment centers.
Biochemists and biophysicists typically need a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced scientific knowledge and research skills associated with this career. This level of education supports deep expertise across core skill areas such as science, mathematics, and computers and information technology. Success in graduate and professional training for this field also relies heavily on critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and being detail oriented. In addition to technical strengths, the role calls for writing and reading skills to communicate complex ideas clearly, as well as leadership capabilities that can support coordinating projects or guiding teams. Creativity and innovation, paired with adaptability, are also important for navigating evolving scientific questions and approaches. For students planning their path, this means preparing for a rigorous, long‑term educational journey while steadily developing both technical and soft skills that align with the demands of biochemistry and biophysics work.
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