SOC 19-1021 · Life, physical and social science
Biochemists and Biophysicists prevailing wage by area
At Level II this ranges from $141,648 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA down to $69,680 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, a spread of $71,968 on the same job.
What this occupation covers
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.
Occupation definition from oes_soc_occs.csv, OFLC_Wages_2026-27.zip.
Every area with a surveyed figure
| Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $114,899 | $141,648 | $168,376 | $195,125 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $80,850 | $118,206 | $155,584 | $192,941 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $83,034 | $115,502 | $147,992 | $180,461 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,582 | $115,357 | $139,152 | $162,926 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $91,291 | $113,048 | $134,826 | $156,582 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $85,488 | $111,114 | $136,760 | $162,386 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $88,566 | $110,552 | $132,558 | $154,544 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $81,827 | $104,270 | $126,693 | $149,136 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $85,966 | $102,669 | $119,371 | $136,074 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $84,843 | $102,586 | $120,307 | $138,050 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $77,480 | $102,502 | $127,525 | $152,547 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,109 | $89,856 | $117,624 | $145,371 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $78,666 | $88,691 | $98,696 | $108,722 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $76,149 | $88,254 | $100,360 | $112,466 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,040 | $87,235 | $108,430 | $129,626 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $73,029 | $87,131 | $101,234 | $115,336 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $65,707 | $84,531 | $103,334 | $122,158 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $66,394 | $82,971 | $99,549 | $116,126 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $60,445 | $82,139 | $103,813 | $125,507 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $70,512 | $81,411 | $92,290 | $103,189 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,312 | $79,477 | $93,642 | $107,806 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,781 | $78,957 | $99,154 | $119,330 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,429 | $77,792 | $98,134 | $118,498 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $62,234 | $75,026 | $87,818 | $100,610 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $60,611 | $69,680 | $78,770 | $87,838 |
25 areas, all surveyed for that metropolitan area rather than imputed from a broader geography. 3 of them carry a full breakdown page, selected by filing volume; the rest show their figures here. ALC_Export.csv, wage year 2026-27.
How employers filed for this occupation
Across 512 certified H-1B filings in FY2025 Q1 to Q4 that recorded a level, the plurality landed on Level I. The median wage actually offered was $78,000 a year, from 605 filings.
| Level | Filings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | 291 | 56.8% |
| Level II | 157 | 30.7% |
| Level III | 37 | 7.2% |
| Level IV | 27 | 5.3% |
LCA disclosure data, FY2025 Q1 to Q4. Certified H-1B filings only.
Work out a specific determination
The level depends on the requirements in the job description rather than the title. Run the worksheet for Biochemists and Biophysicists with a specific area, experience requirement and education level.