Senior Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 256 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Somerville, Lexington, Watertown.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $88,899 |
| 25th | $105,331 |
| 50th (median) | $115,000 |
| 75th | $127,123 |
| 90th | $153,950 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $91,100 | $85,779 | $101,379 | 75 |
| FY2021 | $105,000 | $98,134 | $115,000 | 101 |
| FY2022 | $109,250 | $96,000 | $125,611 | 108 |
| FY2023 | $112,906 | $106,413 | $125,000 | 128 |
| FY2024 | $113,000 | $105,331 | $124,757 | 153 |
| FY2025 | $105,500 | $105,331 | $124,380 | 131 |
| FY2026 | $120,000 | $113,464 | $130,000 | 125 |
Cost of living
Boston's median senior Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $115,000 is worth about $106,200 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 $115,000, 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | $105,331 | 19 |
| The Broad Institute | $115,000 | 13 |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | $88,899 | 11 |
| General Hospital | $86,950 | 10 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | too few | 9 |
| Harvard University | too few | 9 |
| Children's Hospital | too few | 8 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 7 |
| Wave Life Sciences | too few | 7 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 6 |
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.