Biochemists and Biophysicists
Life, Physical, and Social Science · SOC 19-1021
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
Decision card
Career Evidence Passport
SOC 19-1021 evidence across exposure, wages, projections, postings, certified LCAs, skills, and transitions.
- SOC exposure
- 7.6%
- Medium · Anthropic AEI
- Automation friction
- 53/100
- Moderate friction; broad SOC seed ORS job-requirements coverage.
- Wages
- $127,410
- H-1B offered wage $79,054; LCAs are filings.
- Projected openings
- 3,100
- BLS EP 2024–2034; employment change +5.8%.
- Observed/proxy demand
- 2,638
- FY2025 certified LCAs; 5,189 postings in 2025.
Skill evidence
- H-1B values are certified Labor Condition Applications, not visa approvals.
- Job postings are seed-static / seed-derived; treat as provider-ready proxy coverage until observed provider data is wired in.
- Transition matches are directional skill-overlap context, not placement guarantees.
- This release is a FutureGrid broad-SOC seed derived from public BLS ORS requirement concepts and categories, not direct occupation-level ORS survey estimates. It describes job requirements, not worker ability, AI capability, or displacement probability. Automation friction is a FutureGrid derived score and should be read alongside exposure, demand, wage, and projection signals.
Best transitions from here
Explore all pathways→Lower AI-exposure roles that reuse your skills, ranked by a transition score (skills that transfer, safety gain, pay and retraining effort).
AI Exposure Analysis
Across AI measures
Multiple exposure lenses for this occupation.
AI could do ~45.5% of this role but only ~7.6% is currently done with AI — a large capability-vs-adoption gap.
Top Skills
H-1B Visa Sponsorship Demand
View full H-1B trends →Certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications naming this occupation, FY2016–FY2025. A descriptive high-skill labor-demand signal — employer filings, not visa approvals or individual outcomes. Note: one LCA can cover multiple worker positions.
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.
Common titles: Analytical Research Chemist, Biochemist, Biophysics Researcher, Scientist
Representative Tasks
- •Share research findings by writing scientific articles or by making presentations at scientific conferences.
- •Teach or advise undergraduate or graduate students or supervise their research.
- •Study physical principles of living cells or organisms and their electrical or mechanical energy, applying methods and knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
- •Manage laboratory teams or monitor the quality of a team's work.
- •Develop new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- •Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
- •Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
- •Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
- •Develop biological research methods.
Tools & Technologies
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
Employment & Wage Trend
BLS OEWS, 2019–2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). See /sources.
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 7.6% | 9.7% |
| Outlook | Average | 37% Bright |
| Median Salary | $127,410 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 92/100 | N/A |