Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, biochemists and biophysicists earn $131,700 at the median, or about $63.32 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $191K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $115,964 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $132K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About biochemists and biophysicists
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What this looks like in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim tracks closely to the national median, $132K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $2,601/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $165K | $143K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $122K | $109K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $124K | $112K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $129K | $122K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $191K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $157K | +24% | 370 |
| California | $140K | +10% | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $135K | +6% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +5% | 2,750 |
| Connecticut | $133K | +4% | 540 |
| Massachusetts | $132K | +3% | 14,890 |
| New Jersey | $123K | -4% | 2,570 |
| District of Columbia | $120K | -6% | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $110K | -14% | 200 |
| Michigan | $109K | -14% | 730 |
| South Carolina | $109K | -14% | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $106K | -16% | 170 |
| Virginia | $106K | -17% | 70 |
| Delaware | $102K | -20% | 490 |
| Iowa | $101K | -21% | 140 |
| New York | $101K | -21% | 980 |
| Maryland | $101K | -21% | 690 |
| Washington | $99K | -22% | 270 |
| Kansas | $98K | -23% | 140 |
| Texas | $98K | -23% | 520 |
| Ohio | $90K | -29% | 350 |
| Illinois | $87K | -32% | 150 |
| Georgia | $86K | -33% | 110 |
| Maine | $85K | -34% | 390 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -35% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $82K | -35% | 570 |
| Utah | $82K | -36% | 160 |
| Minnesota | $81K | -36% | 190 |
| Missouri | $80K | -38% | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | -40% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $75K | -41% | 40 |
| Nevada | $69K | -46% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $69K | -46% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $67K | -47% | 70 |
| Alabama | $49K | -62% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biochemists and biophysicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,300/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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,841/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $131,700 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,690, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $191,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,699/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 33.8% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 $115,964 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.