Biochemists and Biophysicists
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.
- O*NET-SOC code
19-1021.00 - Preparation Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$127,410
Employment, U.S.33,830
Median hourly wage$61.26
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,290 | $95,000 | $127,410 | $163,460 | $201,110 |
By state (37)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 90 | $48,510 | 0.20 |
| Arkansas | $82,390 | ||
| California | 3,240 | $139,580 | 0.82 |
| Colorado | 960 | Not available | 1.53 |
| Connecticut | 540 | $132,670 | 1.47 |
| Delaware | 490 | $101,880 | 4.62 |
| District of Columbia | 70 | $120,090 | 0.43 |
| Florida | 370 | $157,390 | 0.17 |
| Georgia | 110 | $85,680 | 0.10 |
| Illinois | 150 | $87,010 | 0.11 |
| Iowa | 140 | $101,090 | 0.41 |
| Kansas | 140 | $97,850 | 0.44 |
| Kentucky | 40 | $74,710 | 0.09 |
| Maine | 390 | $84,560 | 2.80 |
| Maryland | 690 | $100,650 | 1.15 |
| Massachusetts | 14,890 | $131,600 | 18.81 |
| Michigan | 730 | $109,340 | 0.76 |
| Minnesota | 190 | $81,280 | 0.30 |
| Missouri | 290 | $79,550 | 0.45 |
| Nebraska | 70 | $66,910 | 0.31 |
| Nevada | $69,220 | ||
| New Hampshire | 200 | $109,770 | 1.33 |
| New Jersey | 2,570 | $122,620 | 2.75 |
| New York | 980 | $101,080 | 0.46 |
| North Carolina | 570 | $82,220 | 0.53 |
| Ohio | 350 | $90,000 | 0.29 |
| Oklahoma | 70 | $69,130 | 0.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,750 | $134,090 | 2.08 |
| Rhode Island | $76,710 | ||
| South Carolina | 60 | $109,080 | 0.13 |
| Tennessee | 60 | $134,560 | 0.08 |
| Texas | 520 | $97,510 | 0.17 |
| Utah | 160 | $81,990 | 0.44 |
| Vermont | 40 | Not available | 0.63 |
| Virginia | 70 | $105,780 | 0.08 |
| Washington | 270 | $98,840 | 0.34 |
| Wisconsin | 170 | $106,480 | 0.26 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 5 | 0.983 |
| 2 | Geneticists | 5 | 0.971 |
| 3 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 5 | 0.969 |
| 4 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 5 | 0.968 |
| 5 | Biologists | 5 | 0.965 |
| 6 | Microbiologists | 4 | 0.965 |
| 7 | Nanosystems Engineers | 5 | 0.962 |
| 8 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 5 | 0.958 |
| 9 | Hydrologists | 4 | 0.958 |
| 10 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | 4 | 0.957 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Biochemists and Biophysicists, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biologists | Programming | 1.00 | 0.965 |
| Nanosystems Engineers | Technology Design | 1.00 | 0.962 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | Technology Design | 0.87 | 0.957 |
| Medical Dosimetrists | Service Orientation | 0.88 | 0.950 |
| Materials Engineers | Quality Control Analysis | 0.87 | 0.939 |
| Biostatisticians | Programming | 1.25 | 0.935 |
| Fuel Cell Engineers | Troubleshooting | 1.62 | 0.924 |
| Photonics Engineers | Technology Design | 1.00 | 0.918 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | Negotiation | 0.87 | 0.918 |
| Microsystems Engineers | Negotiation | 1.00 | 0.917 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Biochemists and Biophysicists, excluding software Biochemists and Biophysicists already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| National Instruments LabVIEW | 9 of 20 | 6.7x |
| ClustalW | 4 of 20 | 36.9x |
| C++ | 10 of 20 | 4.2x |
| Formula translation/translator FORTRAN | 6 of 20 | 9.2x |
| Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis software | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| Primer3 | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| Structured query language SQL | 10 of 20 | 3.1x |
| Software development tools | 5 of 20 | 8.5x |
| OriginLab Origin | 3 of 20 | 34.6x |
| PHYLIP | 3 of 20 | 34.6x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science | Essential skill | 4.75 | 5.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.38 | 5.25 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.25 | 5.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 4.25 | 5.12 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 4.12 | 5.25 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 4.12 | 4.62 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.75 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 4.38 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 4.00 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 4.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.50 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.75 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.38 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.38 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 1.12 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 4.65 | 6.45 |
| Chemistry | 4.35 | 5.65 |
| Mathematics | 4.30 | 5.80 |
| English Language | 4.30 | 5.30 |
| Physics | 4.05 | 5.60 |
| Education and Training | 3.70 | 4.85 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.55 | 5.10 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.37 | 4.10 |
| Administration and Management | 2.95 | 3.95 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2.90 | 3.30 |
| Mechanical | 2.55 | 3.40 |
| Design | 2.45 | 3.10 |
| Administrative | 2.15 | 2.65 |
| Communications and Media | 2.15 | 2.40 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.05 | 2.55 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.05 | 1.95 |
| Telecommunications | 2.00 | 1.55 |
| Production and Processing | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Law and Government | 1.85 | 1.80 |
| Building and Construction | 1.80 | 1.70 |
| Psychology | 1.70 | 1.80 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.70 | 1.40 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.50 | 1.55 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 1.45 | 1.10 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.45 | 1.05 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.45 | 0.95 |
| Foreign Language | 1.45 | 0.85 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.40 | 1.05 |
| Transportation | 1.40 | 0.90 |
| Food Production | 1.30 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.30 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.25 | not rated |
| Geography | 1.10 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Written Expression | 4.25 | 5.38 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.25 | 5.25 |
| Written Comprehension | 4.25 | 5.25 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.12 | 5.88 |
| Oral Expression | 4.12 | 5.50 |
| Category Flexibility | 4.00 | 5.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Information Ordering | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Near Vision | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.88 | 4.62 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.75 | 5.00 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.75 | 4.75 |
| Originality | 3.75 | 4.62 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Number Facility | 3.50 | 4.12 |
| Visualization | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Memorization | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Speed of Closure | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Finger Dexterity | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Time Sharing | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Control Precision | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.12 | 1.75 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.12 | 1.75 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Depth Perception | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 1.75 | 1.12 |
| Static Strength | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Reaction Time | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Rate Control | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Response Orientation | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.38 | 0.62 |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.12 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Explosive Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
| Stamina | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Microsoft PowerPoint in demand
- Electronic lab notebook software in demand
- Adobe Photoshop hot
- Extensible markup language XML hot
- IBM SPSS Statistics hot
- Linux hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft Visio hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Perl hot
- Python hot
- R hot
- SAP software hot
- SAS hot
- The MathWorks MATLAB hot
- 3D graphics software
- Accelrys Cerius2
- Accelrys FELIX
- Accelrys Insight II
- Accelrys QAUNTA
- Analysis and building software
- Assisted model building with energy refinement AMBER
- AutoQuant AutoDeblur
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- Carrier-mediated transport software
- Chang Bioscience ToolKit
- ChemInnovation Software Chem 4-D
- Chemistry at Harvard Molecular Mechanics CHARMm
All 72
- Crystallography & NMR System (CNS)
- Crystallography software
- Dassault Systemes Abaqus
- Docking and ligand binding software
- ESRI What if?
- Elsevier MDL ISIS/Draw
- Email software
- Expression DNA and protein sequence software
- Fujitsu BioMedCache
- Fujitsu MOPAC
- GE Healthcare ImageQuant TL
- GEPASI
- Gaussian software
- Genetics computer group GSG software
- Golden Helix ChemTree
- Golden Helix HelixTree
- Graphics software
- Hodgkin-Huxley Model software
- Intelligent Imaging Innovations SlideBook
- ItemTracker
- JustBio SeqPainter
- Laboratory information management system LIMS
- Macroscopic diffusion software
- Minitab
- Molecular Devices Corporation MetaFluor
- Molecular Devices Corporation MetaMorph
- Molecular Networks GmbH Biochemical Pathways
- Molecular Simulations WebLab ViewerPro
- Molecular simulation software
- Multivariate statistical program MVSP software
- PREMIER Biosoft Array Designer
- Semichem AMPAC
- Sequence database software
- Shrodinger Jaguar
- Statistical software
- Structure prediction software
- Tripos SYBYL
- Video analysis software
- Voltage-gated ion channels software
- Wavefunction Spartan
- Wavefunction Titan
- Yet another scientific artificial reality application YASARA software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 13,370 | 22.73 | $131,550 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,060 | 13.90 | $125,420 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 520 | 9.92 | $124,300 |
| Boulder, CO | 390 | 9.34 | $140,710 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 380 | 6.03 | $84,490 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 150 | 5.58 | $135,320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,050 | 4.84 | $134,090 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 260 | 3.50 | $87,650 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,380 | 2.67 | $165,050 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 710 | 2.13 | $121,740 |