SOC 19-1021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Biochemists and Biophysicists — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington, DC the median wage is $103,660.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington, DC the median wage is $103,660. That is 18.6% lower than the national median of $127,410. Pay ranges from under $65,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $167,550 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $70,770 to $129,970.
The area has 490 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.72 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 707 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 163rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,510 | −48.6% |
| 25th | $70,770 | −44.5% |
| Median (50th) | $103,660 | −18.6% |
| 75th | $129,970 | +2.0% |
| 90th | $167,550 | +31.5% |
| Mean | $108,630 | −14.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $103,660 buys what $94,322 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 26.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$103,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$94,322US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $103,660 a year, 18.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,510 to $167,550 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $103,660, or $49.84 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $127,410, so pay in Washington, DC is 18.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington, DC earns more than $167,550 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,510 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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