Entry-level Biological Technician salary in Washington, DC

Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Frederick, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Rockville, Arlington.

Also listed as: Research Associate (Biology)

Median salary$56,560
Middle 50%$43.2k–$65.3k
vs. all levels here−7%comparison median $60,882
Filings15FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $42,723 and $456,464.
PercentileSalary
10th$42,723
25th$43,243
50th (median)$56,560
75th$65,311
90th$71,697

Cost of living

Washington's median entry-level Biological Technician salary of $56,560 is worth about $51,900 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Biological Technicians in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $63,510 in May 2025 (1,630 employed). The H-1B median here is $56,560, 11% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Georgetown Universitytoo few3
Astrix Technologytoo few2
Kite Pharmatoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $56,560 15
Mid-level · Level II $60,085 18
Senior · Level III too few 2
Expert · Level IV too few 2

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$43,118$56,56015
Mid-level · Level II$51,750$60,08518

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.