Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Research biochemist salary
Average research biochemist salary
$76,649
Understanding Research Biochemist Salaries
The average salary for a research biochemist in the United States is approximately $76,649 annually, equating to about $37 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on several factors, including location, years of experience, and specialization. For instance, states such as California and New York often offer higher salaries due to their demand for skilled professionals in cutting-edge research environments.
Salary by State
Research biochemists in states like Massachusetts and Washington report some of the highest earnings in the country. These regions host numerous biotech firms and research institutions that contribute to competitive compensation packages. Job seekers can leverage this knowledge to target specific areas for their job applications.
Career Growth Opportunities
As the field continues to evolve, opportunities for advancement, including management and specialized research roles, are expanding. Continuous education and networking can further enhance earning potential. Staying informed about salary trends is crucial for making informed career decisions.
Let Zippia find your next research biochemist job
Let Zippia find your next research biochemist job
Where can a Research Biochemist earn more?
Research biochemist salary estimates from across the web
Average research biochemist salary by state
The highest-paying states for research biochemists are Hawaii, Tennessee, and Connecticut. The lowest average research biochemist salary states are North Dakota, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research biochemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $90,843 | $43.67 |
| 2 | California | $86,000 | $41.35 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $87,672 | $42.15 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $85,010 | $40.87 |
| 5 | Maine | $85,470 | $41.09 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $77,940 | $37.47 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $77,424 | $37.22 |
| 8 | Delaware | $80,185 | $38.55 |
| 9 | Indiana | $85,416 | $41.07 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $94,084 | $45.23 |
| 11 | Montana | $78,172 | $37.58 |
| 12 | Arizona | $77,905 | $37.45 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $71,893 | $34.56 |
| 14 | Vermont | $71,564 | $34.41 |
| 15 | Oregon | $72,471 | $34.84 |
| 16 | Alaska | $86,948 | $41.80 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $69,003 | $33.17 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $72,335 | $34.78 |
| 19 | Nevada | $78,160 | $37.58 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $68,799 | $33.08 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $77,855 | $37.43 |
| 22 | Illinois | $70,280 | $33.79 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $68,368 | $32.87 |
| 24 | Michigan | $64,876 | $31.19 |
| 25 | Colorado | $66,764 | $32.10 |
| 26 | Ohio | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| 27 | Missouri | $61,927 | $29.77 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $61,638 | $29.63 |
| 29 | Maryland | $71,445 | $34.35 |
| 30 | Virginia | $64,849 | $31.18 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $64,765 | $31.14 |
| 32 | New York | $67,198 | $32.31 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $58,231 | $28.00 |
| 34 | Georgia | $63,140 | $30.36 |
| 35 | Idaho | $61,401 | $29.52 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $57,750 | $27.76 |
| 37 | Texas | $59,642 | $28.67 |
| 38 | Washington | $63,279 | $30.42 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $61,022 | $29.34 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $61,652 | $29.64 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $55,920 | $26.88 |
| 42 | Florida | $58,898 | $28.32 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $58,867 | $28.30 |
| 44 | Alabama | $59,128 | $28.43 |
| 45 | Utah | $50,075 | $24.07 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $54,594 | $26.25 |
| 47 | Kansas | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $53,548 | $25.74 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $51,452 | $24.74 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $52,251 | $25.12 |
| 51 | Iowa | $45,331 | $21.79 |
Highest paying cities for research biochemists
The highest-paying cities for research biochemists are San Francisco, CA, Rahway, NJ, and Newark, DE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $94,371 | $45.37 |
| 2 | Rahway, NJ | $85,078 | $40.90 |
| 3 | Newark, DE | $80,274 | $38.59 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,009 | $37.50 |
| 5 | Gaithersburg, MD | $71,141 | $34.20 |
| 6 | Evanston, IL | $70,763 | $34.02 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $64,030 | $30.78 |
| 8 | Port Arthur, TX | $59,300 | $28.51 |
Research biochemist salary details
A research biochemist's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $110,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research biochemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
| Average | $76,649 | $6,387 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
Highest paying research biochemist jobs
The highest paying types of research biochemists are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
| Medical Science Liaison | $145,718 | $12,143 | $70.06 | 57,208 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for research biochemists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Kimberley Cousins
John M. Pfau Endowed Professor and Department Chair, California State University San Bernardino
Top companies hiring research biochemists now:
Which companies pay research biochemists the most?
Research biochemist salaries at Abbott and Merck are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research biochemist salary at companies like Sanofi US and Sepax Technologies are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abbott | $93,047 | $44.73 |
| 2 | Merck | $88,322 | $42.46 |
| 3 | Sanofi US | $86,611 | $41.64 |
| 4 | Sepax Technologies | $83,546 | $40.17 |
| 5 | Chemtex | $74,805 | $35.96 |
| 6 | University of California | $72,129 | $34.68 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research biochemist salary trends
The average research biochemist salary has risen by $12,883 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research biochemist earned $63,766 annually, but today, they earn $76,649 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for research biochemists over the last decade.
Compare research biochemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research biochemist salary over time
Compare research biochemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research biochemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $76,600 | $36.85 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $74,400 | $35.76 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $71,000 | $34.15 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $68,800 | $33.06 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $67,500 | $32.43 | -2.1% |
Recently added research biochemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idexx Laboratories, Inc. | Field Sales Bioanalytics Research SAN Francisco CA | San Francisco, CA | 11/26/2024 | $60,000 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Biochemist Researcher | Chesterfield, MO | 03/26/2024 | $52,175 |
| Belcan | Biochemist Researcher | Chesterfield, MO | 03/23/2024 | $53,219 |
Research biochemist salary FAQs
Search for research biochemist jobs