10 Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs You Might Not Know 

10 Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs You Might Not Know 

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This article is our latest study on the Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs / Biochemistry majors.

There is more to choosing a job than just money, but it is a big consideration, and it can provide stability if something happens in your life, like small children, that demands your time.

We’ve used stats from reliable websites and videos to compile a list of the highest-paying biochemistry jobs to help you decide.

Here are the highest-paying jobs for biochemistry majors.

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Here is a video summary based on this article


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#10. Toxicologist

How much do they get paid? 

  • Source: Salary.com
  • Low Range: $54,070 per year
  • High Range: $113,590 per year
  • Median Pay: $81,328 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

Toxicologists study the harmful effects of various biological and chemical agents on humans, animals, and the environment. They work in a variety of settings, including in the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and hospitals.

Toxicologists may work on issues pertaining to environmental policy or public health. Some toxicologists specialize in testing the safety of new products made with chemicals, while others focus on researching the effects of chemicals on the environment.

The median annual wage for toxicologists is $81,328 (according to data from Salary.com). The highest-paid toxicologists earned $113,590 annually as of 2022. 

What degrees and skills are usually required?

Most toxicologists have at least a master’s degree in chemistry or a related subject and several years of professional experience. However, some entry-level jobs are available to those who have earned bachelor’s degrees or completed certificate programs in their field.

Toxicologists must possess strong scientific skills, including understanding biology and chemistry. They must also be able to analyze data using scientific methods and explain their research findings using data visualization techniques. Toxicologists need strong written communication skills in order to write reports explaining their research findings.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Pharmaceuticals.
  • Laboratories.
  • Manufacturing companies such as Kimberly-Clark.

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What is the best way to get this job?

You can start by getting some experience working with chemicals as an assistant or lab technician. You’ll gain valuable insight into how these substances interact with each other and what effects they have on people and animals.

What is it like to be a toxicologist?

#9. Clinical Research Associate

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: ZipRecruiter
  • Low Range: $22,000 per year
  • High Range: $354,000 per year
  • Median Pay: $82,861 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

The typical Clinical Research Associate is responsible for ensuring that clinical trials are in accordance with the federal regulations and any institutional or corporate guidelines. 

Where do they work?

Most CRAs work for pharmaceutical companies or contract research organizations (CROs), where they can earn a median wage of roughly $82,861 per year. 

What degrees are usually required?

CRAs usually have a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to science or healthcare, though some employers may accept a candidate with only an Associate’s degree who has documented experience in the field. Many CRAs begin their careers as Clinical Research Coordinators, then move up once they’ve obtained experience.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

Research and pharmaceutical institutions are some of the companies that hire CRAs.

What is the best way to get this job?

You should gain experience in clinical trials by working as a research assistant or study coordinator prior to becoming a CRA.


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How do you become a clinical research associate?

#8. Biochemical Engineer

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: Glassdoor
  • Low Range: $15,000 per year
  • High Range: $226,000 per year
  • Median Pay: 84,815 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

Biochemical Engineers design, install and manage equipment that is essential in the production of foods and pharmaceuticals. These engineers are also in charge of equipment used in the chemical engineering of things like synthetic fibers and plastics.

The average yearly salary for Biochemical Engineers is $84,815 per year. 

What degrees are usually required?

Most employers prefer Biochemical Engineers who have a master’s degree in biochemical engineering, biology, chemistry, or another related subject. An undergraduate biochemistry degree may be sufficient for some entry-level jobs.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Chemical plants.
  • Learning institutions.
  • Research laboratories.

What is the best way to get this job?

Apply for low-level jobs as you gain experience and develop skills necessary for top jobs in this field.


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Should you become a biochemical engineer?


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#7. Biomedical Engineer

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: ZipRecruiter
  • Low Range: $39,000 per year
  • High Range: $182,000 per year
  • Median Pay: $90,618 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

A Biomedical engineer is a biochemistry major who develops medical equipment, performs biomedical research to find new treatments, and helps improve and maintain the quality of patient care.

Biomedical engineers earn an average yearly salary of $90,618.

What degrees and skills are usually required?

Employers prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or a related field, although some jobs may require a master’s degree or a Ph.D.

You must have analytical skills, critical-thinking skills, and knowledge of medicine and molecular biology. 

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Learning institutions.
  • Pharmaceutical companies.
  • Research centers.
  • Hospitals.

What is the best way to get this job?

Join a professional association for biomedical engineers. This will help you establish connections and increase your chances of finding employment. You should also consider volunteering for research projects or internships to gain experience.


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Should you become a biomedical engineer?

#6. Medical Chemist

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: Salary.com
  • Low Range: $72,860 per year
  • High Range: $123,851 per year
  • Median Pay: $93,637 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

A Medical Chemist is a scientist who studies the properties of substances. They carry out experiments, research, and studies to figure out the reactions between substances and living organisms.

According to Salary.com, a Medical Chemist earns an average yearly salary of $93,637. 

What degrees and skills are usually required?

A bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field is enough to get you into an entry-level position.

Most of the highest earners in this profession have graduate-level education.

Medical Chemists should have excellent communication skills since they often work with teams of other scientists and must be able to explain their findings clearly and concisely.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Pharmaceutical companies.
  • Government agencies.
  • Private laboratories.
  • Learning institutions.

What is the best way to get this job?

You should definitely check out the relevant website where the company posts all its open positions.


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Who are medical chemists?

#5. Patent Examiner

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: Glassdoor
  • Low Range: $20,000 per year
  • High Range: $220,000 per year
  • Median Pay: $95,118 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

Patent examiners are responsible for reviewing patent applications to make sure they comply with applicable government regulations. 

Where do they work?

Patent examiners typically work in offices or laboratories during regular business hours. 

According to data from Glassdoor, the average yearly salary for a patent examiner is $95,118.

What degrees are usually required?

Most employers prefer applicants who have a biochemistry degree or an undergraduate degree in a related scientific field. But, applicants with a degree in law may also qualify for some positions as patent examiners depending on their undergraduate education and experience level.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Government offices.
  • Laboratories.

What is the best way to get this job?

You can apply for internships with businesses and agencies that deal with patents. This will give you experience in what it’s like to be a patent examiner.

What is it like to be a patent examiner?


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#4. Petroleum Engineer

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: Glassdoor
  • Low Range: $25,000 per year
  • High Range: $422,000 per year
  • Median Pay: $97,666 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

Petroleum engineers are responsible for finding new oil sources and developing ways to extract and refine oil from existing sources.

The average yearly salary for petroleum engineers is $97,666, according to Glassdoor.

What degrees and skills are usually required?

Petroleum engineers typically have a bachelor’s degree in engineering. However, a master’s degree is necessary for some positions. Prior experience working as an engineer is also normally required.

Employers prefer applicants with essential skills for this job title. The skills include analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and project management.

How bright is their future?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for petroleum engineers to increase by 8% over the next decade.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Oil and gas companies.
  • Drilling sites.

What is the best way to get this job?

The best way to get hired as a petroleum engineer is by having relevant work experience and academic credentials. Apply for open positions.

What is it like to be a petroleum engineer?

#3. Food Scientist

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: Salary Explorer
  • Low Range: $61,400 per year
  • High Range: $206k per year
  • Median Pay: $131k per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

A food scientist is a research assistant who studies the chemical composition and properties of food, like how it interacts with other ingredients and how it reacts to certain temperatures. They are experts in the science of food and drink.

According to the data from Salary Explorer, the average salary for food scientists is $131,000 per year.

What degrees and skills are usually required?

You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like chemistry, food science, or biology. But, pursuing graduate degrees or certification programs will advance your career.

They have to have good communication skills because they need to convey complex scientific ideas to people who are not scientists.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Government agencies.
  • Food processing industries.

What is the best way to get this job?

If you are just entering the field, I recommend getting an internship with a food science company. This will give you valuable experience and hands-on training, plus help you build a network of contacts who can potentially help with future job searches.

Should you become a food scientist?


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#2. College Professor

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: Glassdoor
  • Low Range: $37k per year
  • High Range: $535k per year
  • Median Pay: $138,510 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

College Professors are subject-area experts who lead classes and seminars that help their students understand and apply the information they learn. They also guide their students through the process of developing their own research projects, then help them bring those projects to life. 

What degrees are usually required?

College Professors typically have a Ph.D., but some schools will accept master’s degree holders who have significant experience in their field.

Most College Professors work at 4-year colleges and universities, with some working at junior colleges. 

How bright is their future?

College professors typically earn over $138,510 annually. The BLS expects the job outlook for college professors to grow by 12% over the next ten years.

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

Learning institutions such as:

  • The University of Southern California.
  • The University of Miami.
  • Rutgers University.
  • Temple University.

What is the best way to get this job?

All you have to do is send your materials over to the company’s human resource department you want to join.

Make sure your portfolio is up-to-date and that you’ve got a cover letter that shows off some of your best qualities.

What is it like to be a college professor?

#1. Physician Associate

How much do they get paid?

  • Source: ZipRecruiter
  • Low Range: $19,500 per year 
  • High Range: $316,500 per year
  • Median Pay: $162,282 per year
Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs : Credits: Pexels
Credits: Pexels

What do they do?

Physician associates are healthcare professionals who provide helpful medical services to patients under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. 

What degrees and certifications are usually required?

You need a bachelor’s degree as well as an additional 2 years of training at the graduate level to be part of this profession.

Employers also prefer candidates who are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and licensed by their state’s medical board. 

Who’s hiring for these jobs?

  • Healthcare institutions.
  • Government agencies.

What is the best way to get this job?

Improve your skills by taking internship positions. Then seek out physician associate positions by checking out job boards, and relevant companies’ websites. 

Should you become a physician associate?

Conclusion

Even with a biochemistry degree, you must show your potential employer that you are qualified for the job by ranking on top of one particular competition. 

We hope you found value in our list of the highest-paying jobs for biochemistry majors.

Insider Tips
🚀 A thoughtful CV is more likely to get a thoughtful response. Often "thoughtful" just means you have taken the time to understand what they need and reflect that understanding on your CV. 
🤖 Use Jasper to tailor the CV and cover letter for you to 10X your interviews.
💡 Check out these tools to boost your productivity and impact.

Similar articles


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SJ Tsai
Chief Editor. Writer wrangler. Research guru. Three years at scijournal. Hails from a family with five PhDs. When not shaping content, creates art. Peek at the collection on Etsy. For thoughts and updates, hit up Twitter.

2 thoughts on “10 Highest Paying Biochemistry Jobs You Might Not Know ”

  1. Wow this is educative I have really learn slot from the writing, my faculty has been enlightened on where to secure a job and the possible wage

    Reply

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