Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 1,442 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Somerville, Lexington, Watertown.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,000 |
| 25th | $76,000 |
| 50th (median) | $90,910 |
| 75th | $115,000 |
| 90th | $143,291 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $67,954 | $56,827 | $90,000 | 549 |
| FY2021 | $66,399 | $57,866 | $94,888 | 750 |
| FY2022 | $78,458 | $60,780 | $100,000 | 861 |
| FY2023 | $86,549 | $69,000 | $111,238 | 831 |
| FY2024 | $91,229 | $73,329 | $115,000 | 831 |
| FY2025 | $85,842 | $76,000 | $108,150 | 815 |
| FY2026 | $93,600 | $77,267 | $123,910 | 627 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $90,910 is worth about $84,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $110,410 in May 2025 (2,630 employed). The H-1B median here is $90,910, 18% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $76,000 | 200 |
| Harvard University | $76,491 | 100 |
| The Broad Institute | $90,000 | 99 |
| Children's Hospital | $77,267 | 81 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | $91,978 | 70 |
| Zifo Technologies | $79,500 | 43 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | $106,838 | 37 |
| Trustees Of Boston University | $71,000 | 33 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $67,161 | 30 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | $143,461 | 24 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $76,000 | 501 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $91,978 | 517 |
| Senior · Level III | $115,000 | 256 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,461 | 162 |
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 | $61,381 | $76,000 | 501 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $91,978 | $91,978 | 517 |
| Senior · Level III | $113,464 | $115,000 | 256 |
| Expert · Level IV | $134,971 | $143,461 | 162 |
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.