Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2003

19-1021 Biochemists and Biophysicists

Study the chemical composition and 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. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
State profile for this occupation
Metropolitan area profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
14,430 5.4 % $32.27 $67,120 1.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $17.15 $21.83 $29.95 $40.00 $50.40
Annual Wage (2) $35,680 $45,410 $62,300 $83,210 $104,830

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Employment rank Wage rank
Scientific research and development services 5,780 $32.08 $66,730 1 10
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 3,900 $32.67 $67,950 2 9
Architectural and engineering services 760 $40.82 $84,900 3 4
Colleges and universities 720 $22.81 $47,450 4 19
General medical and surgical hospitals 690 $33.45 $69,580 5 8

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Employment rank Wage rank
Employment services 180 $46.14 $95,970 9 1
Offices of physicians 50 $44.12 $91,780 14 2
Other professional and technical services (6) $41.86 $87,070 (6) 3
Architectural and engineering services 760 $40.82 $84,900 3 4
Management and technical consulting services 150 $38.67 $80,420 10 5

State profile for this occupation: Top

States with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment Wage rank within State
New Jersey 950 $36.55 $76,020 0.025% 65
Massachusetts 670 $36.48 $75,890 0.021% 63
Maryland 470 $29.60 $61,560 0.019% 108
California 2,770 $33.41 $69,490 0.019% 111
Pennsylvania 980 $28.74 $59,780 0.018% 105

Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment Wage rank within State
Arizona 50 $39.77 $82,720 0.002% 21
Washington (6) $37.94 $78,910 (6) 44
New York 1,260 $37.48 $77,960 0.015% 62
New Jersey 950 $36.55 $76,020 0.025% 65
Massachusetts 670 $36.48 $75,890 0.021% 63

Metropolitan area profile for this occupation: Top

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA PMSA 70 $21.27 $44,240 0.077%
Madison, WI MSA 200 $21.98 $45,710 0.071%
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 410 $29.69 $61,760 0.062%
Oakland, CA PMSA 630 $38.33 $79,730 0.062%
Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ PMSA 380 $32.55 $67,700 0.061%

Top paying Metropolitan areas for this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Nassau-Suffolk, NY PMSA (6) $83.47 $173,620 (6)
Newark, NJ PMSA 340 $42.64 $88,690 0.035%
San Francisco, CA PMSA 230 $39.33 $81,820 0.024%
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA PMSA (6) $38.70 $80,500 (6)
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA 40 $38.47 $80,010 0.003%

About May 2003 National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

To see profiles of other occupations, select from the major groups below:

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. The top five employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable Excel files(XLS).

Percentile wage estimates show the percentage of workers in an occupation that earn less than a given wage and the percentage that earn more. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(6) Estimates not released.

All Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

2003 May National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

2003 May State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

2003 May Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

2003 May National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2003 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped Excel files

Technical notes

 

Last Modified Date: May 7, 2004