Science · Career brief

Biochemists and Biophysicists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Biochemists and Biophysicists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$127,410

Very high national median pay

2025 national median. Top 10% for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

12.3%

Strong projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

2,900

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Professional degree

Long formal preparation is part of the path

Doctoral or professional degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Analytical

Problem-solving and analysis dominate the profile

Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are pay and growth; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if analytical work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a professional-degree path. Main tradeoff: Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

Before choosing, compare:Astronomers Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Physicists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Biochemists and Biophysicists with another field Explore rankings in Science Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$127,410

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

12.3%employment growth2,900openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Doctoral or professional degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

35,200

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Biochemists and biophysicists (19-1021).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Analyzing Data or Information5.0
Documenting/Recording Information4.8
Thinking Creatively4.8
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.8
Getting Information4.7

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Investigative7.0
Realistic5.1
Conventional3.6
Artistic2.6
Social2.2
Enterprising1.8

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Biology Chemistry Mathematics Physics

Software and tools named in job postings

Electronic lab notebook software

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Run a small investigation with a written hypothesis, observations or public data, and a conclusion that states what the evidence cannot prove.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Biochemists and biophysicists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Science, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Electronic lab notebook software; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options