Mid-level Biochemist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 58 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Chantilly, Rockville, Ashburn.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $83,513 |
| 25th | $90,000 |
| 50th (median) | $113,900 |
| 75th | $126,487 |
| 90th | $139,015 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $96,750 | $84,713 | $102,663 | 28 |
| FY2021 | $102,737 | $89,760 | $107,585 | 44 |
| FY2022 | $91,200 | $76,880 | $105,251 | 44 |
| FY2023 | $108,423 | $98,488 | $113,415 | 29 |
| FY2024 | $117,962 | $111,372 | $120,322 | 29 |
| FY2025 | $119,142 | $95,510 | $128,371 | 28 |
| FY2026 | $95,750 | $83,928 | $125,740 | 30 |
Cost of living
Washington's median mid-level Biochemist salary of $113,900 is worth about $104,600 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 $113,900, 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health, HHS | $125,000 | 15 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | $82,297 | 10 |
| Granules Pharmaceuticals | too few | 8 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | too few | 7 |
| MedImmune | too few | 5 |
| Institute for In Vitro Sciences | too few | 2 |
| Leidos Biomedical Research | 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.