Biochemist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 163 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Chantilly, Rockville, Ashburn.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,038 |
| 25th | $80,000 |
| 50th (median) | $96,500 |
| 75th | $125,620 |
| 90th | $139,688 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,261 | $68,925 | $98,500 | 161 |
| FY2021 | $87,912 | $75,694 | $103,690 | 138 |
| FY2022 | $86,834 | $76,427 | $102,003 | 144 |
| FY2023 | $89,347 | $80,000 | $109,613 | 102 |
| FY2024 | $108,791 | $94,132 | $120,492 | 96 |
| FY2025 | $98,360 | $80,000 | $125,827 | 97 |
| FY2026 | $94,632 | $83,513 | $123,836 | 66 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Biochemist salary of $96,500 is worth about $88,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Biochemists and Biophysicists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $103,660 in May 2025 (490 employed). The H-1B median here is $96,500, 7% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health, HHS | $101,365 | 36 |
| Granules Pharmaceuticals | $81,964 | 26 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | $125,000 | 21 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | $81,080 | 13 |
| MedImmune | $126,428 | 13 |
| Georgetown University | too few | 8 |
| Axle Informatics | too few | 5 |
| Hansoh Bio | too few | 5 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 5 |
| Institute for In Vitro Sciences | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $80,000 | 78 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $113,900 | 58 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,040 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $67,038 | $80,000 | 78 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $83,928 | $113,900 | 58 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,166 | $124,040 | 14 |
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.