Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In California, biochemists and biophysicists earn $139,580 at the median, or about $67.11 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $131,506 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $140K get you in California?
About biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in California
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $140K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $140K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $125K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by metro in California
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $165K | +18% | 1,380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $132K | -6% | 580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $129K | -7% | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $124K | -11% | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $122K | -13% | 710 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $140K, rent takes 30.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,015/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $140K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
California pays $140K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in California?
The median is $139,580 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,580, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $208,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $140K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,086/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 30.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a biochemists and biophysicists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biochemists and biophysicists salary is worth about $131,506 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biochemists and biophysicists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.