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Job outlook for clinical biochemists in the United States
Are clinical biochemist jobs in demand?
Clinical biochemist job and salary trends over time
Clinical biochemist jobs over time
Clinical biochemist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,544 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,410 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,381 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,255 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,206 | 0.00% |
Average clinical biochemist salary over time
Clinical biochemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $106,828 | $51.36 | --0.2% |
| 2024 | $107,077 | $51.48 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $105,706 | $50.82 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $103,337 | $49.68 | +11.0% |
| 2021 | $93,127 | $44.77 | +0.0% |
Clinical biochemist jobs by state
Most common states for clinical biochemists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 179 | 26% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 163 | 12% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 126 | 12% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 96 | 11% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 83 | 11% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 709 | 10% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 405 | 10% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 106 | 10% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 484 | 9% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 340 | 9% |
| 11 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 259 | 9% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 59 | 9% |
| 13 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 1,671 | 8% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 700 | 8% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 576 | 8% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 547 | 8% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 492 | 8% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 454 | 8% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 442 | 8% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 81 | 8% |
Clinical Biochemist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical biochemist experts
Elmhurst University
The University of Chicago and Elmhurst University
Fort Hays State University
State University of New York at Buffalo
Millikin University
Baylor University
Harding University
California State University San Bernardino
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
University of Wisconsin
Allegheny College
California State University
Zoey Hua Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorElmhurst University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
What skills stand out on Clinical Biochemist resumes?
Zoey Hua Ph.D.: This goes for biochemists but also more generally for scientists: besides experience at the bench performing biochemical and other related experiments, problem-solving and critical thinking skills developed through data analysis and interpretation are of high importance. For any senior role in academia and industry, being able to draw evidence-based conclusions is a premium skill, and demonstrating that in your resume or CV can come in the form of publications, conference presentations, and recommendation letters that highlight intellectual contributions to research.
What soft skills should all Clinical Biochemists possess?
Zoey Hua Ph.D.: In both academia and industry, senior biochemist roles typically involve presenting research and mentorship. The ability to effectively communicate research in written and oral form, both to expert and non-expert audiences, is an undervalued skill. Mentorship is required for senior roles: this can involve providing scientific direction and guidance, critical feedback of experimental design and data, and teaching the necessary skills to perform experiments. Significant experience in this area will help a candidate stand out. Additionally, science is increasingly a team effort, with some major recent advances the result of large-scale collaborations. Traditional academic science is often an individual pursuit, so the ability to work in teams and well with others will help candidates stand out. Finally, professionalism is often taken for granted but is as important as all the other soft skills.
What skills will help Clinical Biochemists earn the most?
Zoey Hua Ph.D.: The biotech industry is hot right now, particularly after the successful deployment of vaccines based on new technology. Experience handling viruses and performing experiments to conduct viral research will help land high-paying jobs in this field. CRISPR and biologics are all the rage in therapeutics; experience with gene-editing, antibody engineering, or CAR-T technologies are highly sought after. These skills should be in demand for years to come. The bedrock of all these technologies is decades of academic research, and from this perspective, there should be considerable research funding in these areas for the foreseeable future.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Clinical Biochemists?
Zoey Hua Ph.D.: Relevant research experience is a requisite, and candidates should be well versed in at least some of the experimental techniques for a given position. These can include performing biochemical assays, handling biomolecules, and experience with adjacent research areas such as biophysical methods and molecular biology tools. We wouldn't say it is required that someone is experienced in all relevant areas; with independent research experience and training comes the expectation that one can obtain the necessary skills with limited guidance. For an academic researcher running their own lab, the ability to obtain external funding is likely the most important facet of their job. Like all others, this is a skill that comes with extensive practice and is related to the first soft skill mentioned above.
Satchal Erramilli
Staff Scientist at UofC, Adjunct Professor at ElmhurstThe University of Chicago and Elmhurst University
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (UofC), Chemistry (Elmhurst)
What skills stand out on Clinical Biochemist resumes?
Satchal Erramilli: This goes for biochemists but also more generally for scientists: besides experience at the bench performing biochemical and other related experiments, problem-solving and critical thinking skills developed through data analysis and interpretation are of high importance. For any senior role in academia and industry, being able to draw evidence-based conclusions is a premium skill, and demonstrating that in your resume or CV can come in the form of publications, conference presentations, and recommendation letters that highlight intellectual contributions to research.
What soft skills should all Clinical Biochemists possess?
Satchal Erramilli: In both academia and industry, senior biochemist roles typically involve presenting research and mentorship. The ability to effectively communicate research in written and oral form, both to expert and non-expert audiences, is an undervalued skill. Mentorship is required for senior roles: this can involve providing scientific direction and guidance, critical feedback of experimental design and data, and teaching the necessary skills to perform experiments. Significant experience in this area will help a candidate stand out. Additionally, science is increasingly a team effort, with some major recent advances the result of large-scale collaborations. Traditional academic science is often an individual pursuit, so the ability to work in teams and well with others will help candidates stand out. Finally, professionalism is often taken for granted but is as important as all the other soft skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Clinical Biochemists?
Satchal Erramilli: Relevant research experience is a requisite, and candidates should be well versed in at least some of the experimental techniques for a given position. These can include performing biochemical assays, handling biomolecules, and experience with adjacent research areas such as biophysical methods and molecular biology tools. We wouldn't say it is required that someone is experienced in all relevant areas; with independent research experience and training comes the expectation that one can obtain the necessary skills with limited guidance. For an academic researcher running their own lab, the ability to obtain external funding is likely the most important facet of their job. Like all others, this is a skill that comes with extensive practice and is related to the first soft skill mentioned above.
What skills will help Clinical Biochemists earn the most?
Satchal Erramilli: The biotech industry is hot right now, particularly after the successful deployment of vaccines based on new technology. Experience handling viruses and performing experiments to conduct viral research will help land high-paying jobs in this field. CRISPR and biologics are all the rage in therapeutics; experience with gene-editing, antibody engineering, or CAR-T technologies are highly sought after. These skills should be in demand for years to come. The bedrock of all these technologies is decades of academic research, and from this perspective, there should be considerable research funding in these areas for the foreseeable future.
Arvin J Cruz
Chair & Associate ProfessorFort Hays State University
Department of Chemistry
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Biochemist job market given the pandemic?
Arvin J Cruz: I anticipate online shopping and delivery to continue to increase. As the pandemic continues, I see this trend to flatten, at some point, because the demand reaches a saturation point. In line with this, career jobs in the areas of delivery/courier and internet sales follow the same trend. As vaccines and medicines develop, I also see a demand to hire pharmaceutical chemists, virologists, and biochemists. Pharmaceutical companies may provide additional financial incentives to their employees working double-time to find a cure for COVID-19. Jobs in healthcare, such as nurses, doctors, medical technologists, will still be in demand.
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Biochemist?
Arvin J Cruz: Keep the desire to pursue your career choice and remain resilient. Don't let an obstacle, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or being turned down for a job offer, topple you down. Be adaptable because you may not get the job ('dream job') related to your degree right away. Keep learning, and continue to develop your skills. As I mentioned earlier, knowledge is power, and no one can take that away from you. You'll never know when you will need or apply it. As an example, I had a chance to work as a staff assistant at the WSU (Wichita State University) - Center for Community Support and Research (CCSR) when I was a Ph.D. student in chemistry. You might wonder why a chemistry Ph.D. graduate student is working in a community psychology-related field?! But I tell you, there are soft skills in leadership, anthropology, and leadership that I learned from this job experience. Such skills include how to deal and work efficiently with people of different personalities and appreciate adaptive challenges in leadership. I still apply these skills in my current position as Chair of the Chemistry department at FHSU. In fact, it is a continuous learning experience.
How do you envision technology impacting Clinical Biochemists in the next 5 years?
Richard Gronostajski Ph.D.: There will be more remote-learning and remote work for at least the next two years. Many companies may find that remote workers can be as productive as on-site workers and will continue the practice even after the Covid crisis ends. While an effective vaccine will allow more people to return to offices, many may choose to continue to work from home. AI tools will be more critical for office work but will not replace human factors. Augmented reality apps will become more prevalent and useful, especially in retail. Face-to-face chats may replace online chat technology as more people become familiar with teleconferencing technology. Telemedicine will likely expand and will require support personnel to keep it going.
What type of skills will young Clinical Biochemists need?
Richard Gronostajski Ph.D.: The most important skill, if you can call it such, is flexibility; the ability to change your work habits to meet the companies goals. While you may get hired to perform specific tasks, those tasks will likely change quickly and you will need to change with them.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Biochemists to find work opportunities?
Richard Gronostajski Ph.D.: The Covid-19 crisis has hurt some industries and has helped others (for example, Zoom). I think the areas of health care which is expanding, biomedical research which can develop, and online communication are all fields that will continue to hire strongly in the coming years.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Biochemist job market given the pandemic?
George Bennett Ph.D.: The pandemic has revealed that a significant number of tasks or job responsibilities can be performed remotely and that there are advantages to not having staff clustered together in a facility, so I expect that work schedules will become more flexible, concerning the location, and that science in the industry will become less centralized. New graduates might not need to re-locate to start their jobs. I will not be surprised if some companies move their headquarters to states with less affinity for lockdowns.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Clinical Biochemists in the next 5 years?
George Bennett Ph.D.: I think there's no question that the demand for graduates in chemistry will increase. Developing safer and more effective anti-viral medicines, designing improved materials for masks and other personal protective equipment, and providing educational resources for virtual laboratory instruction are among the initiatives that require chemists to play a crucial role.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Biochemist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Michael Trakselis, Ph.D.: The biotech and pharmaceutical industry appears to be weathering this pandemic well. There is a consistent number of jobs open for qualified applicants. Some of this is related to the drug or antibody development and manufacturing that is COVID-related. Both pharma/biotech companies on the East and West coasts are doing well. Postdoc positions also seem to be holding up. More than that, social media platforms make finding a postdoc position in the chemical and biological chemistry areas easier than it used to be. Federal funding for grants is stable, and so postdoc positions are sound. However, there will most likely be a downturn in charity (ACS, Heart, Komen, etc.) funded research and works in the coming years as charitable contributions are down.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Clinical Biochemists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Michael Trakselis, Ph.D.: Bioinformatics continues to lead the way as whole-cell/organism approaches are being used. On the chemical/pharma side, the Proteolysis-targeting chimera (Protac) is being pursued by most major pharma companies aiming to target specific proteins for degradation and appears to be a novel, promising area.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Clinical Biochemists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Michael Trakselis, Ph.D.: Increased demand may depend on the political climate in the coming years. If there is a concerted focus on renewable energies, then many more BS/MS/Ph.D. level scientist jobs will be available. Vaccines and emerging disease drugs will continue to be a focus, even past the current pandemic. Antibody-drug targets (or immunotherapies) will continue to focus on creating more diverse cancer therapies with more biological targets. If the current administration is still in control, I don't predict an increase in government funding for granting agencies. However, a Biden administration may finally increase funding to several scientific government agencies or restore funding to the CDC and FDA, creating more jobs.
Cindy White Ph.D.
Department ChairHarding University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Clinical Biochemists in the next 3-5 years?
Cindy White Ph.D.: Technology will allow businesses to allow employees to work from home. Also, technology in biomedical engineering and technology advances healthcare. Another area that will grow is a technology that will enable doctors to perform telemedicine better.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Clinical Biochemists in the next 5 years?
Cindy White Ph.D.: I believe there will be an increase in the core sciences, which biomedical research is founded upon.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Biochemist job market given the pandemic?
Cindy White Ph.D.: I think jobs in the sciences (specifically the core research sciences - chemistry, biology, physics) will grow. Healthcare research will increase, and the basis of this is the core sciences. I also think technology jobs will increase, as more and more companies switch to more of their workforce working from home, maybe even permanently, even after the pandemic gets better.
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Biochemist?
Kimberley Cousins: Get some experience: research or internship while an undergraduate, or working at a chemical "temp agency" upon graduating-network: set up a professional LinkedIn page. Attend campus job fairs and networking events, including local section meetings of the American Chemical Society. Send out lots of resumes. Work with the career center or a mentor to tailor your resume. Be persistent.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Clinical Biochemists in the next 3-5 years?
Kimberley Cousins: Chemists solve basic societal problems, including air quality, water quality, materials, consumer products, pharmaceutical development, and manufacture. Technology improvements used by chemists will center on analytical techniques and on teamwork in industry and government. The analytical techniques will continue to become more automated and connected via networks, and the teamwork will be both in-person and virtual. Some of the virtual communication skills students are using during the pandemic will be applicable after graduation.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Clinical Biochemists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Kimberley Cousins: Most job surveys show starting salaries for chemists averaging in the mid-'40s but varying a lot by region and industry (industrial, specialty, government, education). Having additional education or credentials increases starting salaries. In a 2019 survey by C&E News, baccalaureate educated chemists averaged nearly $80,000 across all sectors and age groups. Traditionally chemists have very low unemployment rates, even during economic downturns and in times of crisis, as they are employed in fields that are essential for society to function. In 2016 and 2019, unemployment among chemists hovered around 2.5%
Christopher Veldkamp Ph.D.
Professor of ChemistryUniversity of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Department of Chemistry
What type of skills will young Clinical Biochemists need?
Christopher Veldkamp Ph.D.: Things change quickly in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry. It means graduates need to learn new and complicated things while in the workforce, which is possible with a solid foundation of subject area knowledge and their college degree's learning skills. Any additional training, like participating in research that promotes the ability to learn technical skills that are either unfamiliar to the graduate or new to the field, will be more valuable than collecting a set of technical skills that could become quickly outdated.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Biochemists to find work opportunities?
Christopher Veldkamp Ph.D.: Almost all graduates from the UW-Whitewater Chemistry Department have excellent success finding jobs in their field right here in Wisconsin, and not just in Madison or Milwaukee. If I recalled correctly, a year or two ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted growth in chemistry/biochemistry/STEM jobs in Southeast Wisconsin, in particular, and Wisconsin in general. Still, someone may want to double-check my recollection or if this has changed any.
What type of skills will young Clinical Biochemists need?
Jack Evans: There are many potential answers to this question, but there are a couple of things that immediately come to mind. First, Technology seems to change/improve every day, so it is important for young graduates to stay "digitally literate," which will allow for, among other things, the ability to access, assess, and analyze information/data pertaining to their work.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Biochemists to find work opportunities?
Jack Evans: This question is almost impossible to answer as there are so many different careers under the umbrella of biology (the study of life). For example, we have biologists here in my department that study molecular pathogenesis of diseases, to those that study community ecology in aquatic systems, and everything in between as such opportunities will vary.
Scott Gronert Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Letters and ScienceUniversity of Wisconsin
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
What type of skills will young Clinical Biochemists need?
Scott Gronert Ph.D.: As always, students need an excellent understanding of the fundamentals of Chemistry to be successful, but employers are asking for graduates also to bring strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in teams. They can teach new employees techniques, but they are not prepared to develop their soft skills set.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Biochemists to find work opportunities?
Scott Gronert Ph.D.: Chemists are required, all over the country, in medical analysis labs and manufacturing quality control labs. Hot spots in recent years have been in high-tech cities like Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego, where many innovative pharmaceutical companies have popped up.
What type of skills will young Clinical Biochemists need?
Alice Deckert: You might be better off asking employers this question. From what I have read, they are looking for people with good problem-solving skills, good teamwork skills, and good communication skills. These are all skills that we emphasize in all of our course work (not just Chemistry) at Allegheny College.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Biochemists to find work opportunities?
Alice Deckert: Chemistry graduates can get positions just about anywhere. There are a wide variety of careers open to Chemistry majors, and in which our students have found success. For example, patent law, drug discovery, green energy technology, teaching, science writing, science illustrating, and basic research, to name a few. Depending on what type of career you are looking for, you might find one part of the country better than another, but I don't think there is one part of the country that holds more opportunities for chemists than another part of the country.
How do you envision technology impacting Clinical Biochemists in the next 5 years?
Alice Deckert: If by this you mean digital technology, then I don't see it impacting the field a whole lot more than it already has. However, chemists are at the forefront of many different technologies and are pushing innovation in a number of different areas. For example, green energy relies on good ways to store wind, and solar energy and chemists are leading the way to build better and more efficient batteries to do that. In addition, harvesting solar energy relies on materials for the collection of the sun's energy. Chemists are at the forefront of designing new, more efficient materials for solar energy collection. In the realm of biomedical technology, Chemists are leading the way to new drug targets and to developing new, rapid point of care tests for a variety of biochemical markers. So, my answer to this question is that Chemists will impact technology more than technology impacts the field of chemistry.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Biochemists?
Patrick Still Ph.D.: The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates, from the lens of chemistry and biochemistry majors, will be an interruption in normally planned laboratory experiments and diminished lab hours handling glassware and working with instrumentation. Many online lab simulations and video recordings of experiments help students understand the theory and data analysis, but cannot replace the trial-and-error experiences of in-person labs.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Biochemists to find work opportunities?
Patrick Still Ph.D.: Students interested in the health professions can still find jobs in this area. However, taking an additional gap year will allow further MCAT study and clinical experiences until a vaccine is widely available.