Biochemist and Biophysicist Salary
Biochemists and Biophysicists earn a median $127,410 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$127,410
$61.25 per hour
Range
$74,290 – $201,110
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
33,830
across the U.S.
Biochemist and Biophysicist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$98,351
per year · effective tax rate 22.8%
$8,196Monthly
$4,098Twice a month
$3,783Every 2 weeks
$47.28Hourly
- Federal income tax$19,312
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,899
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,847
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$98,351
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,290 | $35.72 | $61,093 |
| 25th percentile | $95,000 | $45.67 | $75,663 |
| Median (50th) | $127,410 | $61.25 | $98,351 |
| 75th percentile | $163,460 | $78.59 | $122,991 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $201,110 | $96.69 | $149,745 |
Best cities for biochemists and biophysicists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,090 | $98,800 | $96,339 | 3,050 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $165,050 | $110,812 | $95,847 | 1,380 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $125,420 | $90,940 | $88,702 | 1,060 |
| 4 | Trenton, NJ | $124,300 | $90,497 | $87,708 | 520 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $131,550 | $94,823 | $87,583 | 13,370 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $131,700 | $91,552 | $80,616 | 580 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $121,740 | $85,799 | $76,684 | 710 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $109,620 | $80,520 | $71,534 | 2,200 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $103,660 | $75,912 | $69,718 | 490 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $165,050
- Philadelphia, PA — $134,090
- Los Angeles, CA — $131,700
- Boston, MA — $131,550
- Worcester, MA — $125,420
- Trenton, NJ — $124,300
- San Diego, CA — $121,740
- New York, NY — $109,620
- Washington, DC — $103,660
Biochemist and Biophysicist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $157,390 | $118,842 | $63,950 – $239,200+ | 370 |
| California | $139,580 | $96,103 | $83,580 – $208,210 | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $134,560 | $103,238 | $82,140 – $229,640 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,090 | $98,800 | $82,890 – $172,820 | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $132,670 | $96,136 | $97,200 – $170,700 | 540 |
| Massachusetts | $131,600 | $94,855 | $79,560 – $208,130 | 14,890 |
| New Jersey | $122,620 | $89,456 | $80,070 – $162,240 | 2,570 |
| District of Columbia | $120,090 | $86,074 | $62,080 – $182,100 | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $109,770 | $86,053 | $73,240 – $139,380 | 200 |
| Michigan | $109,340 | $81,354 | $58,580 – $142,350 | 730 |
| South Carolina | $109,080 | $80,180 | $70,270 – $149,130 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $106,480 | $79,476 | $85,730 – $146,380 | 170 |
| Virginia | $105,780 | $77,978 | $74,640 – $221,880 | 70 |
| Delaware | $101,880 | $75,120 | $62,210 – $155,080 | 490 |
| Iowa | $101,090 | $76,757 | $65,950 – $136,840 | 140 |
| New York | $101,080 | $75,016 | $66,140 – $165,710 | 980 |
| Maryland | $100,650 | $75,220 | $65,510 – $159,330 | 690 |
| Washington | $98,840 | $78,364 | $64,010 – $128,040 | 270 |
| Kansas | $97,850 | $73,007 | $63,550 – $153,340 | 140 |
| Texas | $97,510 | $77,428 | $61,820 – $222,850 | 520 |
| Ohio | $90,000 | $70,452 | $58,580 – $138,490 | 350 |
| Illinois | $87,010 | $65,879 | $60,060 – $173,140 | 150 |
| Georgia | $85,680 | $65,282 | $77,280 – $228,170 | 110 |
| Maine | $84,560 | $63,768 | $66,570 – $132,830 | 390 |
| Arkansas | $82,390 | $63,791 | $65,030 – $152,020 | — |
| North Carolina | $82,220 | $63,900 | $62,850 – $160,940 | 570 |
| Utah | $81,990 | $63,786 | $49,870 – $157,320 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $81,280 | $62,007 | $62,370 – $126,930 | 190 |
| Missouri | $79,550 | $61,992 | $64,760 – $132,420 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $76,710 | $60,536 | $64,550 – $135,980 | — |
| Kentucky | $74,710 | $58,891 | $57,020 – $199,580 | 40 |
| Nevada | $69,220 | $57,526 | $42,050 – $149,430 | — |
| Oklahoma | $69,130 | $54,898 | $51,750 – $101,100 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $66,910 | $53,736 | $51,470 – $89,240 | 70 |
| Alabama | $48,510 | $38,997 | $47,090 – $85,520 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biochemist and biophysicist make?
The national median salary for biochemists and biophysicists is $127,410 a year ($61.25 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,290 and the top 10% earn over $201,110. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays biochemists and biophysicists the most?
Florida has the highest median pay at $157,390. After taxes and local prices, Philadelphia, PA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many biochemists and biophysicists are there in the U.S.?
About 33,830 people work as biochemists and biophysicists nationwide.