Biochemists and Biophysicists
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 19-1021.00United States
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.
- Median annual earnings
- $126,948
- Projected change
- +10.2%
- Typical education
- Doctoral degree or more
- Employment
- 36.72K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
65% of the workforce
Growing to 40.47K by 2035
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Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What biochemists and biophysicists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
- Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
- Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
- Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
- Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
- Design or perform experiments with equipment, such as lasers, accelerators, or mass spectrometers.
- Determine the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules.
- Prepare reports or recommendations, based upon research outcomes.
- Design or build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.
- Study spatial configurations of submicroscopic molecules, such as proteins, using x-rays or electron microscopes.
- Study the chemistry of living processes, such as cell development, breathing and digestion, or living energy changes, such as growth, aging, or death.
- Study the mutations in organisms that lead to cancer or other diseases.
- Research the chemical effects of substances, such as drugs, serums, hormones, or food, on tissues or vital processes.
- Research transformations of substances in cells, using atomic isotopes.
- Develop or execute tests to detect diseases, genetic disorders, or other abnormalities.
- Develop or test new drugs or medications intended for commercial distribution.
- Isolate, analyze, or synthesize vitamins, hormones, allergens, minerals, or enzymes and determine their effects on body functions.
- Examine the molecular or chemical aspects of immune system functioning.
- Research how characteristics of plants or animals are carried through successive generations.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $73,413
- 25th percentile
- $94,139
- 50th percentile
- $126,948
- 75th percentile
- $163,751
- 90th percentile
- $203,263
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $126,948 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+10.2%faster than average
202536,717 jobs
2035 projected40,468 jobs
3,751 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Doctoral degree or more
- 65%
- Bachelor's degree
- 25%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 10%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Scientists487 postings
- 02Biochemists377 postings
- 03Assistant Professors of Biochemistry204 postings
- 04Associate Scientists186 postings
- 05Postdoctoral Associates155 postings
- 06Postdoctoral Fellows97 postings
- 07Biochemistry Research Assistants89 postings
- 08Principal Scientists88 postings
- 09Research Associates88 postings
- 10Research Biochemists62 postings
- 11Postdoctoral Scholars60 postings
- 12Research Assistants59 postings
- 13CMC Regulatory Affairs Managers51 postings
- 14Molecular Biologists48 postings
- 15Applications Scientists47 postings
- 16Research Scientists47 postings
- 17Laboratory Assistants46 postings
- 18Postdoctoral Research Associates45 postings
- 19Characterization Engineers44 postings
- 20Chemistry Scientists38 postings
Top employers
- 01Eurofins149 postings
- 02Rutgers120 postings
- 03Pace Analytical Services101 postings
- 04Actalent96 postings
- 05Rutgers University73 postings
- 06Parexel56 postings
- 07Net2Source50 postings
- 08Regeneron Pharmaceuticals50 postings
- 09Merck & Co.45 postings
- 10Thermo Fisher Scientific43 postings
- 11AbbVie40 postings
- 12Eli Lilly37 postings
- 13Herc37 postings
- 14At Pace Ltd35 postings
- 15Pennsylvania State University32 postings
- 16Randstad32 postings
- 17Genentech30 postings
- 18Insight Global29 postings
- 19Amgen28 postings
- 20Connect Life Sciences28 postings
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