Expert Biochemist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 59 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Somerville, Lexington, Framingham.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $143,894 |
| 25th | $146,120 |
| 50th (median) | $159,014 |
| 75th | $175,145 |
| 90th | $185,200 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $135,000 | $129,168 | $145,018 | 19 |
| FY2021 | $142,834 | $130,000 | $153,003 | 27 |
| FY2022 | $150,400 | $139,496 | $158,750 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $161,221 | $152,805 | $175,000 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $150,000 | $140,798 | $167,070 | 22 |
| FY2025 | $153,250 | $146,120 | $168,245 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $160,000 | $148,000 | $175,289 | 33 |
Cost of living
Boston's median expert Biochemist salary of $159,014 is worth about $146,900 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 $159,014, 21% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 6 |
| Biogen | too few | 3 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | too few | 3 |
| Takeda Development Center Americas | too few | 3 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 3 |
| Merck Research Laboratories Massachusetts | too few | 2 |
| ModernaTX | too few | 2 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | too few | 2 |
| Solid Biosciences | too few | 2 |
| Ultivue | too few | 2 |
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.