Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for biochemists and biophysicists is $127,410, or $61.26 per hour. About 33,830 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $157,390 in Florida to $48,510 in Alabama.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 35 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $157,390 | $75.67 | 370 | 0.17 |
| 2 | California | $139,580 | $67.11 | 3,240 | 0.82 |
| 3 | Tennessee | $134,560 | $64.69 | 60 | 0.08 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $134,090 | $64.47 | 2,750 | 2.08 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $132,670 | $63.78 | 540 | 1.47 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $131,600 | $63.27 | 14,890 | 18.81 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $122,620 | $58.95 | 2,570 | 2.75 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $120,090 | $57.74 | 70 | 0.43 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $109,770 | $52.78 | 200 | 1.33 |
| 10 | Michigan | $109,340 | $52.57 | 730 | 0.76 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $109,080 | $52.44 | 60 | 0.13 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $106,480 | $51.19 | 170 | 0.26 |
| 13 | Virginia | $105,780 | $50.86 | 70 | 0.08 |
| 14 | Delaware | $101,880 | $48.98 | 490 | 4.62 |
| 15 | Iowa | $101,090 | $48.60 | 140 | 0.41 |
| 16 | New York | $101,080 | $48.60 | 980 | 0.46 |
| 17 | Maryland | $100,650 | $48.39 | 690 | 1.15 |
| 18 | Washington | $98,840 | $47.52 | 270 | 0.34 |
| 19 | Kansas | $97,850 | $47.04 | 140 | 0.44 |
| 20 | Texas | $97,510 | $46.88 | 520 | 0.17 |
| 21 | Ohio | $90,000 | $43.27 | 350 | 0.29 |
| 22 | Illinois | $87,010 | $41.83 | 150 | 0.11 |
| 23 | Georgia | $85,680 | $41.19 | 110 | 0.10 |
| 24 | Maine | $84,560 | $40.66 | 390 | 2.80 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $82,390 | $39.61 | — | — |
| 26 | North Carolina | $82,220 | $39.53 | 570 | 0.53 |
| 27 | Utah | $81,990 | $39.42 | 160 | 0.44 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $81,280 | $39.08 | 190 | 0.30 |
| 29 | Missouri | $79,550 | $38.25 | 290 | 0.45 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $76,710 | $36.88 | — | — |
| 31 | Kentucky | $74,710 | $35.92 | 40 | 0.09 |
| 32 | Nevada | $69,220 | $33.28 | — | — |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $69,130 | $33.24 | 70 | 0.18 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $66,910 | $32.17 | 70 | 0.31 |
| 35 | Alabama | $48,510 | $23.32 | 90 | 0.20 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make?
The median annual wage for biochemists and biophysicists in the United States is $127,410, or $61.26 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $74,290, and the top 10% earn $201,110.
How many biochemists and biophysicists are employed in the U.S.?
About 33,830 people work as biochemists and biophysicists nationwide.
Which state pays biochemists and biophysicists the most?
Florida pays the most at a median of $157,390, followed by California ($139,580) and Tennessee ($134,560).
Which state pays biochemists and biophysicists the least?
Alabama has the lowest median at $48,510.
Where are biochemists and biophysicists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Massachusetts at 18.81×.