Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, biochemists and biophysicists earn $124,050 at the median, or about $59.64 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $205K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $112,344 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month, about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $124K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Biochemists and biophysicists pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $127K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,483/month, which is 47.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biochemists and biophysicists in metros near San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $165K | $143K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $122K | $109K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $132K | $116K |
| 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, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $205K or more, a $124K 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 47.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,483/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,867/month. At HUD’s $3,483/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $127K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $124,050 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,110, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $205,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,322/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 47.6% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $112,344 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.