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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Same job title, wildly different paychecks. Here's why. The national median salary for Biochemists in 2026 is $119,881, with entry-level positions averaging $86,314 and senior roles reaching $170,231. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $218,360, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Biochemist falls within the Science & Research sector, specifically in Science. The typical education path involves PhD or master's. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is lab-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$132,870 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Biochemist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $218,360 — $132,870 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($85,490). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Biochemists average $86,314, the median sits at $119,881, and senior earners pull in $170,231. That $83,917 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $39,514 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $203,940 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $86,177. That $117,763 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Biochemist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $218,360 — $132,870 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($85,490). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Biochemist is $86,314, while senior-level (P90) earners average $170,231. That $83,917 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Biochemists at $144,690 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $127,205) is $17,485.
At the 90th percentile, Biochemists pull in an average of $170,231. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $86,314 | $119,881 | $170,231 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £46,579 | £64,694 | £91,865 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$66,298 | CA$92,080 | CA$130,754 |
| Australia | 13 | A$76,071 | A$105,654 | A$150,028 |
| Sweden | 24 | 474,018 kr | 658,358 kr | 934,868 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $104,177 | $144,690 | $205,459 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $100,672 | $139,823 | $198,548 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $100,116 | $139,050 | $197,451 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $92,700 | $128,750 | $182,825 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $91,588 | $127,205 | $180,631 |
| Washington | 8 | $89,826 | $124,759 | $177,158 |
| New York | 5 | $84,543 | $117,420 | $166,737 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $84,542 | $117,420 | $166,736 |
| Florida | 22 | $83,902 | $116,530 | $165,473 |
| Colorado | 11 | $82,452 | $114,517 | $162,614 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $82,318 | $114,330 | $162,349 |
| Nevada | 5 | $82,169 | $114,124 | $162,056 |
| Arizona | 12 | $81,761 | $113,558 | $161,252 |
| Oregon | 5 | $81,576 | $113,300 | $160,886 |
| Idaho | 3 | $81,329 | $112,957 | $160,398 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $80,686 | $112,064 | $159,131 |
| Utah | 4 | $80,464 | $111,755 | $158,692 |
| Virginia | 7 | $79,139 | $109,916 | $156,080 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $78,115 | $108,493 | $154,061 |
| Alaska | 1 | $77,868 | $108,150 | $153,573 |
| Illinois | 5 | $76,978 | $106,914 | $151,818 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $75,066 | $104,259 | $148,048 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $74,160 | $103,000 | $146,260 |
| Montana | 1 | $74,160 | $103,000 | $146,260 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $73,913 | $102,657 | $145,773 |
| Texas | 40 | $73,548 | $102,150 | $145,053 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $73,419 | $101,970 | $144,798 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $73,048 | $101,455 | $144,066 |
| Georgia | 6 | $72,800 | $101,112 | $143,579 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $72,677 | $100,940 | $143,335 |
| Kansas | 4 | $72,306 | $100,425 | $142,604 |
| Michigan | 6 | $72,059 | $100,082 | $142,116 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $71,194 | $98,880 | $140,410 |
| Maryland | 1 | $71,194 | $98,880 | $140,410 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $70,452 | $97,850 | $138,947 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $70,452 | $97,850 | $138,947 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $68,598 | $95,275 | $135,290 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $68,227 | $94,760 | $134,559 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $67,300 | $93,473 | $132,731 |
| Missouri | 4 | $67,300 | $93,473 | $132,731 |
| Alabama | 5 | $67,040 | $93,112 | $132,219 |
| Indiana | 3 | $66,002 | $91,670 | $130,171 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $66,002 | $91,670 | $130,171 |
| Iowa | 2 | $65,261 | $90,640 | $128,709 |
| Ohio | 6 | $65,137 | $90,468 | $128,465 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $62,294 | $86,520 | $122,858 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Biochemist median of $144,690 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($139,823) and Hawaii ($139,050). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $86,520 and $90,640. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($218,360 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $103,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $218,360 | 212 | $103,000 | $125,052 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $203,940 | 198 | $103,000 | $118,267 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $189,520 | 184 | $103,000 | $111,288 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $186,430 | 181 | $103,000 | $109,587 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $183,340 | 178 | $103,000 | $107,886 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $182,310 | 177 | $103,000 | $107,319 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $182,310 | 177 | $103,000 | $107,319 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $178,190 | 173 | $103,000 | $105,051 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $178,190 | 173 | $103,000 | $105,051 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $174,070 | 169 | $103,000 | $102,783 |
The $83,917 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Biochemist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Biochemists is $119,881 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $86,314, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $170,231.
The highest-paying city for Biochemists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $218,360. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($218,360), Santa Clara ($203,940), Irvine ($189,520). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Biochemist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $85,490. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Biochemists (10th percentile) average $86,314 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $157,219. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Biochemists average $170,231 nationally — $83,917 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Biochemists can earn up to $310,071.
The top-paying states for Biochemists are California ($144,690 median), Massachusetts ($139,823 median), Hawaii ($139,050 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Biochemist involves PhD or master's. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically lab-based.
With a national median of $119,881 and representation across 288 metro areas, Biochemist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $83,917 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.