What Can You Do With a Biochemistry Degree?
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Biochemistry is a laboratory-based science that combines chemistry and biology. Its purpose is to explore chemical processes as they relate to living organisms. By applying chemical techniques and knowledge, biochemists can understand and solve biological issues, such as how cells communicate with each other when under attack and trying to fight off disease.
The Florida Institute of Technology further explains that biochemistry explores the complex chemical reactions within living organisms and is the foundation of medical advances, agriculture, and genetic engineering, among other influential scientific disciplines.
Biochemistry students study cell biology, genetics, molecular function, disease mechanisms, and metabolism to understand how life works and which factors contribute to health and disease. This includes not only human life but the environment as well.
Here are ten careers open to candidates with degrees in biochemistry at varying levels. Please note that most positions in academia or high leadership in research typically require at least a master’s degree, and most prefer doctoral-trained professionals.
Become a Biochemist and Biophysicist
The primary scope of the study for a biochemist or biophysicist is on the physical and chemical principles of cell development, disease, growth, and genetic patterns. Specific duties these scientists perform include researching the effect of hormones, nutrients, and drugs on biological processes and tissues, managing a team of laboratory technicians, and analyzing and synthesizing DNA, fats, and protein.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022) reports a median annual income of $102,270 and expects openings to increase 15 percent from 2021 to 2031, adding 5,700 fresh positions nationwide.
The typical entry-level position requires a graduate or doctorate, and it is common for biochemists with a doctorate to begin their career working in a postdoctoral research position.
In granular terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for biochemists or biophysicists:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 35,050
- Average Annual Salary: $113,460
- 10th Percentile: $61,090
- 25th Percentile: $79,000
- 50th Percentile (Median): $102,270
- 75th Percentile: $132,390
- 90th Percentile: $167,210
Become a Chemist and Material Scientist
Chemists study substances at the molecular and atomic levels to analyze and understand how they interact. Chemists typically develop new testing methods and products, instruct scientists and technicians on proper testing procedures and chemical processing, and complete complex research projects. While it is possible to enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, research positions typically require a graduate or doctoral degree.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022) reports that job openings for chemists and material scientists are projected to increase 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, adding 5,700 fresh positions nationwide.
BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for chemists:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 80,600
- Average Annual Salary: $89,130
- 10th Percentile: $48,100
- 25th Percentile: $61,540
- 50th Percentile (Median): $79,430
- 75th Percentile: $107,140
- 90th Percentile: $134,780
Material scientists have the following national percentiles:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 6,690
- Average Annual Salary: $104,790
- 10th Percentile: $56,380
- 25th Percentile: $77,500
- 50th Percentile (Median): $100,090
- 75th Percentile: $130,400
- 90th Percentile: $162,950
Become a Chemical Safety Engineer
Chemical safety engineers design systems and develop procedures that protect people from injury and illness related to chemicals, furniture, machinery, software, and other consumer products.
Typically, chemical safety engineers’ duties involve reviewing specifications and plans for new machinery, identifying and correcting potential safety hazards, and ensuring that products and buildings comply with all state and federal safety requirements. Most working professionals in this position have at least a bachelor’s degree.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income of $99,040 for health and safety engineers and anticipates average job growth of 4 percent (2021-2031). In more detailed terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for health and safety engineers:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 22,870
- Average Annual Salary: $99,700
- 10th Percentile: $58,490
- 25th Percentile: $76,650
- 50th Percentile (Median): $99,040
- 75th Percentile: $126,780
- 90th Percentile: $150,720
Become a Chemistry Professor
Those who teach chemistry at the college level typically spend their days guiding students in laboratory studies, giving lectures, preparing class material, grading tests, and meeting with students outside of class. Chemistry professors often publish their scientific research as well.
Chemistry professors at four-year colleges and universities typically have a doctorate, while those teaching at a community college usually have a master’s degree. The competition for full-time tenured professor positions can be intense.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income of $79,410 and anticipates 8 percent job growth in openings for chemistry teachers during the decade preceding 2031, adding 2,000 new jobs nationwide. In more detailed terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for chemistry teachers:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 20,260
- Average Annual Salary: $94,060
- 10th Percentile: $49,330
- 25th Percentile: $62,060
- 50th Percentile (Median): $79,410
- 75th Percentile: $104,270
- 90th Percentile: $157,670
Become an Environmental Chemist
Environmental chemists monitor the air, soil, and water to determine how certain chemicals enter the environment and their effects on human and animal life. They also study how human behavior affects chemicals in the environment. Some of the tasks involved in this type of position involve monitoring sources of contamination and pollution, performing analytical testing, initiating product development, and leading sustainability and conservation efforts.
Due to the complexity of the physical environment, environmental chemists would need to call on their knowledge of several other specialties as well, such as biology, engineering, genetics, math, and soil and water chemistry. A bachelor’s degree in natural science or science-related field is the typical entry-level requirement for work as an environmental chemist.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income of $76,530 for environmental scientists and specialists and anticipates an average national job growth of 5 percent (2021-2031), adding 3,800 new positions nationwide. In more detailed terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for environmental scientists and specialists:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 76,890
- Average Annual Salary: $81,240
- 10th Percentile: $46,200
- 25th Percentile: $58,200
- 50th Percentile (Median): $76,530
- 75th Percentile: $99,090
- 90th Percentile: $129,070
Become a Forensic Science Technician
Thanks to television shows such as CSI and Bones, there has been an increased interest in what forensic science technicians do. Of course, these types of shows are not entirely accurate as they tend to over-simplify the work involved. The basic definition of a forensic scientist is someone who collects and analyzes evidence to help criminal investigators determine who committed a crime. Types of evidence these technicians investigate include bodily fluids, hair samples, blood splatter, and fingerprints. Other duties these professionals might perform include photographing evidence, recording observations, and reconstructing crime scenes.
A bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or forensic science is the typical entry-level requirement for work as a forensic science technician. On-the-job training is also required for both those who investigate crime scenes and those who work in labs.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income of $61,930 for forensic science technicians and anticipates above-average annual job growth of 11 percent (2021-2031). Please note that growth will result in only about 2,000 new jobs over the ten years, and job competition is expected to be strong.
In granular terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for forensic science technicians:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 17,020
- Average Annual Salary: $66,850
- 10th Percentile: $37,670
- 25th Percentile: $47,750
- 50th Percentile (Median): $61,930
- 75th Percentile: $80,670
- 90th Percentile: $103,430
Become a Medical Scientist
Medical scientists and researchers use information obtained from clinical trials and other research projects to help improve human health. Examples of specific duties include working with state and federal health departments to improve health outcomes for large groups of people, creating and testing medical devices, and standardizing the potency and doses of prescription drugs to ensure safe mass manufacturing.
Medical scientists typically have a doctorate in biochemistry or another field related to chemistry. Some choose to earn a medical degree instead of (or in addition to) a chemistry degree.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income of $95,310 for medical scientists and anticipates above-average annual job growth of 17 percent (2021-2031), adding 20,800 fresh positions nationwide. In more detailed terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for medical scientists:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 108,550
- Average Annual Salary: $104,050
- 10th Percentile: $50,100
- 25th Percentile: $62,800
- 50th Percentile (Median): $95,310
- 75th Percentile: $130,090
- 90th Percentile: $166,980
Become a Plastic Surgeon
Plastic surgeons repair, replace, or reconstruct physical defects of function or form in a human. They typically operate on a patient’s skin, breasts, trunk, hands, external genitalia, musculoskeletal system, maxillofacial and cranial structures, or extremities. They complete some procedures for aesthetic purposes, such as when a patient wants to change some aspect of his or her appearance voluntarily. But they also operate on patients for reconstructive purposes, such as women who have lost their breasts due to cancer or victims of car accidents who have suffered disfigurement.
Surgeons have demanding education and training requirements. A bachelor’s degree and a medical degree are necessary, and an internship and residency program, which, depending on the specialty, typically takes three to seven years.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income equal to or greater than $208,000 for physicians and surgeons and anticipates job growth of 3 percent (2021-2031). However, the salary of a plastic surgeon varies greatly depending on location.
The national figures were slightly different according to another source of data, Payscale (2022), which relies on self-reported salaries. Among the plastic surgeons reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found these percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $118,000
- 50th percentile (median): $294,348
- 90th percentile: $509,000
Become a Technical Sales and Marketing Professional
The American Chemical Society (ACS) describes a technical marketer as someone who combines his or her scientific knowledge, business skills, and outgoing personality traits to offer appropriate solutions to the business and technical issues their customers face. They are typically involved in all phases of the product cycle, including advertising, market research, packaging, concept development, shipping, and sales.
Examples of products that technical sales representatives sell include imaging equipment, computer software, scientific publications, laboratory equipment, and pharmaceutical services. Also known as a sales engineer, a technical sales and marketing professional typically has at least a bachelor’s degree.
The BLS (2022) reports a median annual income of $103,710 for sales engineers and anticipates job growth of 6 percent between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations (5 percent). In more detailed terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for sales engineers:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 59,550
- Average Annual Salary: $118,630
- 10th Percentile: $62,300
- 25th Percentile: $79,900
- 50th Percentile (Median): $103,710
- 75th Percentile: $155,110
- 90th Percentile: $182,850
Become a Technical Support Specialist for Scientific Products
A technical support specialist may take phone calls from customers who need assistance operating or repairing a scientific product. They also visit customer workplaces to investigate broken equipment, bring it in for repair, and return it to the customer. Some other possible duties for this position include writing instruction manuals, providing general maintenance on products that a company sells, and providing feedback on product development.
They must have in-depth knowledge about a specific class of products to provide appropriate instruction to your customers. Most employers prefer at least a bachelor’s degree in a biology-related field for entry-level work as a technical support specialist, but a graduate—and sometimes doctorate—degree is preferred when working with complex products. Additionally, some employers prefer technical support specialists to have significant experience using the product themselves.
The technical support specialist career mentioned by the ACS is quite similar to what the BLS (2022) has data for a similar profession: computer support specialists. The median annual wage for computer user support specialists was $49,770. The employment of these specialists is projected to grow 6 percent (2021-2031), which is faster than the average for all occupations during the same period.
In granular terms, the BLS (May 2021) found the following national percentiles for computer user support specialists:
- Number of Professionals Employed: 654,310
- Average Annual Salary: $57,650
- 10th Percentile: $34,220
- 25th Percentile: $39,380
- 50th Percentile (Median): $49,770
- 75th Percentile: $68,130
- 90th Percentile: $91,060
