Prevailing Wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists
Prevailing wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer is for a Biochemist, Analytical Research Chemist, or Biophysics Researcher, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts substantially depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level candidates with a bachelor's or master's degree and limited independent research experience. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine and well-defined, and the candidate is still building familiarity with laboratory methods and analytical techniques specific to the employer.
The most common filing level for Biochemists and Biophysicists. Candidates hold relevant degree credentials plus some independent research or industry experience, perform moderately complex analyses, and require only general supervision on standard experimental protocols.
Experienced researchers who design and direct experiments with significant autonomy, may mentor junior staff, and bring specialized expertise in areas such as protein biochemistry, structural biophysics, or metabolomics. Supervision is minimal and the role involves complex problem-solving.
Senior or principal-level scientists who set research direction, lead multi-person teams, and are recognized subject-matter experts. Fully competent to operate without supervision on the most complex analyses, often holding advanced degrees combined with substantial industry or academic research tenure.
Prevailing Wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Biochemists and Biophysicists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your SOC before the LCA is filed
Titles like Scientist or Analytical Research Chemist sometimes get coded under Chemistry (SOC 19-1040) instead of SOC 19-1021, which carries a different wage floor. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 19-1021 before your employer submits to OFLC.
Watch how pharma employers structure total compensation
Biotech and pharmaceutical sponsors frequently offer equity, performance bonuses, and signing bonuses. DOL counts only base salary toward prevailing wage compliance, so confirm the base salary alone clears the applicable wage level floor.
Compare metro wages before accepting a relocation package
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies sharply across markets. New Haven and the Bay Area set some of the highest floors for biochemists, while metros like Austin and Detroit sit well below the national median at every level.
Find sponsors with a Biochemist hiring track record
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Biochemists and Biophysicists and lets you filter by visa type and location, so you can focus on companies already familiar with SOC 19-1021 filings rather than employers sponsoring the role for the first time.
Jobs for Biochemists and Biophysicists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Biochemists and BiophysicistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-1021.00 alongside Biochemists and Biophysicists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Analytical Research Chemist Prevailing Wage
Analytical Research Chemist Prevailing Wage
Analytical Research Chemist positions fall under SOC 19-1021.00 (Biochemists and Biophysicists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Biochemist Prevailing Wage
Biochemist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Biochemist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1021.00 (Biochemists and Biophysicists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Biophysics Researcher Prevailing Wage
Biophysics Researcher Prevailing Wage
Biophysics Researcher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1021.00 (Biochemists and Biophysicists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist positions fall under SOC 19-1021.00 (Biochemists and Biophysicists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each geographic area, OFLC calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for SOC 19-1021. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the wage level that matches the position's complexity and required experience, whichever is higher between the prevailing wage and the employer's actual wage for similar workers.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level positions with close supervision and routine tasks. Level 2 applies to qualified workers performing moderately complex work with general oversight, and is the most common level filed for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced researchers with significant autonomy. Level 4 applies to fully competent senior scientists. Your employer selects the level based on the actual duties, supervision structure, and experience requirements of the specific position described in the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same biochemist role differ so much by city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional wage surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a single national rate. An LCA must list the actual worksite location, and the wage used must match that metro area's OES data. Cities with dense biotech or pharmaceutical employer clusters, like the San Francisco Bay Area and New Haven, report higher median wages in BLS surveys, which directly raises the prevailing wage floor OFLC publishes for those areas.
What happens if my job offer is below the DOL prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a salary below the applicable prevailing wage level. If the offered salary falls short, USCIS can deny the H-1B petition, and OFLC can decertify the LCA for PERM or H-1B1 purposes. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the role at a lower wage level if the actual duties genuinely support it. Underpaying after approval can trigger back-pay liability and debarment.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Biochemists and Biophysicists position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 19-1021 for any metro area. Select the occupation code, choose the relevant geographic area, and the tool returns all four wage levels from the current OFLC dataset. Cross-check against BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics if you want to see the underlying survey data. If you want to see which employers have actively sponsored this role in specific cities, Migrate Mate lists verified sponsoring employers filtered by location and visa type.
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