Entry-level Biochemist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 78 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Chantilly, Rockville, Ashburn.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $63,690 |
| 25th | $68,250 |
| 50th (median) | $80,000 |
| 75th | $107,425 |
| 90th | $125,922 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $73,250 | $63,125 | $83,692 | 110 |
| FY2021 | $79,418 | $67,751 | $86,668 | 78 |
| FY2022 | $77,868 | $65,750 | $90,000 | 78 |
| FY2023 | $85,010 | $77,000 | $94,095 | 65 |
| FY2024 | $97,649 | $86,001 | $106,700 | 53 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $67,519 | $118,415 | 55 |
| FY2026 | $78,000 | $70,047 | $99,426 | 23 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Biochemist salary of $80,000 is worth about $73,500 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 $80,000, 23% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Granules Pharmaceuticals | $71,500 | 14 |
| National Institutes of Health, HHS | $96,305 | 14 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | $123,600 | 12 |
| Georgetown University | too few | 7 |
| MedImmune | too few | 6 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 5 |
| Astrix Technology | too few | 2 |
| Hansoh Bio | too few | 2 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 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 | $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.