Entry-level Biochemist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 280 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Somerville, Lexington, Framingham.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,965 |
| 25th | $71,940 |
| 50th (median) | $78,279 |
| 75th | $90,000 |
| 90th | $105,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $63,261 | $60,000 | $73,882 | 81 |
| FY2021 | $65,000 | $58,601 | $77,272 | 152 |
| FY2022 | $63,383 | $57,165 | $77,210 | 206 |
| FY2023 | $63,240 | $55,000 | $75,000 | 195 |
| FY2024 | $75,000 | $67,645 | $89,794 | 190 |
| FY2025 | $78,750 | $71,750 | $94,094 | 165 |
| FY2026 | $77,700 | $72,000 | $84,936 | 115 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Biochemist salary of $78,279 is worth about $72,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Biochemists and Biophysicists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $131,550 in May 2025 (13,370 employed). The H-1B median here is $78,279, 40% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $78,100 | 57 |
| Harvard University | $74,000 | 20 |
| Children's Hospital | $75,382 | 19 |
| General Hospital | $70,875 | 18 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $76,000 | 13 |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | $70,000 | 10 |
| Sanofi US Services | $100,500 | 10 |
| Amgen | too few | 9 |
| Brandeis University | too few | 7 |
| The Broad Institute | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $78,279 | 280 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $107,099 | 210 |
| Senior · Level III | $128,730 | 88 |
| Expert · Level IV | $159,014 | 59 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $58,469 | $78,279 | 280 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $107,099 | $107,099 | 210 |
| Senior · Level III | $122,450 | $128,730 | 88 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,894 | $159,014 | 59 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.