Home / Career Explorer / Natural Sciences

Biochemists and Biophysicists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$103,650	3100	9.0%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$103,650

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

3100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

9.0%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Post-Doctoral Training

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Detailed Work Activities

Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Develop biological research methods.
Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Research diseases or parasites.
Develop biological research methods.
Develop new or advanced products or production methods.
Research diseases or parasites.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Analyze biological samples.
Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Research genetic characteristics or expression.
Research methods to improve food products.
Research genetic characteristics or expression.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
Analyze biological samples.
Design research studies to obtain scientific information.
Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Set up laboratory or field equipment.
Write grant proposals.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Prepare reports or recommendations, based upon research outcomes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution.
Develop methods to process, store, or use foods, drugs, or chemical compounds.
Investigate the nature, composition, or expression of genes or research how genetic engineering can impact these processes.
Produce pharmaceutically or industrially useful proteins, using recombinant DNA technology.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired