Jobs Similar to Biochemists and Biophysicists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to biochemists and biophysicists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Molecular and Cellular Biologists, Nanosystems Engineers and Medical Scientists.
Biochemists and Biophysicists: $127,410 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Biochemists and Biophysicists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 82% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Nanosystems Engineers | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 81% | $103,410−19% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Bioinformatics ScientistsSame group | 81% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | GeneticistsSame group | 80% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Materials Scientists | 80% | $117,790−8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 79% | $87,990−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Physicists | 79% | $172,250+35% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Hydrologists | 78% | $96,600−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | 78% | $109,370−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 78% | $101,920−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Astronomers | 77% | $128,820+1% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | BiologistsSame group | 77% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 76% | $78,850−38% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 76% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Nuclear Engineers | 75% | $133,970+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Materials Engineers | 75% | $112,860−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 75% | $68,940−46% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Microsystems Engineers | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Medical Dosimetrists | 74% | $147,470+16% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Molecular and Cellular Biologists
82% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Nanosystems Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 3Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
81% similar · $103,410 (−19%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Bioinformatics Scientists
81% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Geneticists
80% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Materials Scientists
80% similar · $117,790 (−8%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Microbiologists
79% similar · $87,990 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Physicists
79% similar · $172,250 (+35%) · Graduate degree
- 9Hydrologists
78% similar · $96,600 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
78% similar · $109,370 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
78% similar · $101,920 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Astronomers
77% similar · $128,820 (+1%) · Graduate degree
- 13Biologists
77% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Soil and Plant Scientists
76% similar · $78,850 (−38%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Bioinformatics Technicians
76% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Nuclear Engineers
75% similar · $133,970 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Materials Engineers
75% similar · $112,860 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Animal Scientists
75% similar · $68,940 (−46%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Microsystems Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 20Medical Dosimetrists
74% similar · $147,470 (+16%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than biochemists and biophysicists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Materials Scientists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Microbiologists79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Hydrologists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioinformatics Technicians76% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for biochemists and biophysicists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where biochemists and biophysicists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like biochemists and biophysicists
What jobs are most similar to biochemists and biophysicists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Molecular and Cellular Biologists (82% similar), Nanosystems Engineers (81% similar), Medical Scientists (81% similar), Bioinformatics Scientists (81% similar) and Geneticists (80% similar).
Which jobs like biochemists and biophysicists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +35%; usually a graduate degree), Medical Dosimetrists ($147,470, +16%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +5%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with biochemists and biophysicists ($127,410). Without more preparation than biochemists and biophysicists usually need: Physicists, Medical Dosimetrists and Nuclear Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.