Entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 64 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes North Chicago, Evanston, Abbott Park, Maywood, Skokie.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $58,926 |
| 25th | $61,428 |
| 50th (median) | $66,496 |
| 75th | $75,553 |
| 90th | $87,817 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $60,000 | $54,000 | $69,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $60,000 | $56,784 | $70,000 | 30 |
| FY2022 | $60,000 | $56,950 | $73,313 | 40 |
| FY2023 | $60,942 | $59,883 | $71,250 | 26 |
| FY2024 | $63,852 | $58,661 | $75,460 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $66,496 | $61,323 | $78,500 | 40 |
| FY2026 | $66,721 | $62,346 | $72,255 | 24 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $66,496 is worth about $64,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $85,680 in May 2025 (780 employed). The H-1B median here is $66,496, 22% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | $64,890 | 23 |
| The University of Chicago | $67,000 | 21 |
| Tempus AI | too few | 6 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | too few | 4 |
| Zifo Technologies | too few | 3 |
| CZ Biohub Chicago | 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 | $66,496 | 64 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $81,433 | 35 |
| Senior · Level III | $82,000 | 39 |
| Expert · Level IV | $118,999 | 20 |
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 | $58,926 | $66,496 | 64 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $64,501 | $81,433 | 35 |
| Senior · Level III | $58,510 | $82,000 | 39 |
| Expert · Level IV | $101,587 | $118,999 | 20 |
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.