Mid-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 517 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Somerville, Lexington, Watertown.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,002 |
| 25th | $82,925 |
| 50th (median) | $91,978 |
| 75th | $104,500 |
| 90th | $120,054 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,500 | $67,954 | $82,700 | 195 |
| FY2021 | $81,682 | $64,008 | $90,000 | 225 |
| FY2022 | $82,000 | $77,968 | $93,480 | 281 |
| FY2023 | $90,000 | $86,549 | $100,000 | 276 |
| FY2024 | $91,374 | $76,000 | $103,039 | 280 |
| FY2025 | $88,910 | $82,000 | $100,610 | 301 |
| FY2026 | $91,979 | $85,522 | $108,000 | 216 |
Cost of living
Boston's median mid-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $91,978 is worth about $85,000 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 $91,978, 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital | $77,267 | 72 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | $91,978 | 37 |
| Harvard University | $82,173 | 36 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $90,000 | 28 |
| The Broad Institute | $108,371 | 24 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | $91,978 | 19 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | $81,000 | 17 |
| Zifo Technologies | $97,500 | 12 |
| Trustees Of Boston University | too few | 9 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | too few | 8 |
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.