Entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Memphis, TN

Based on 25 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cordova.

Median salary$72,530
Middle 50%$64.4k–$72.5k
vs. all levels here−16%comparison median $86,320
Filings25FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $53,939 and $86,320.
PercentileSalary
10th$57,361
25th$64,356
50th (median)$72,530
75th$72,530
90th$86,320

Salary by year

Median salary

$40k $70k $100k FY2020: median $53,504 (13 filings) FY2021: median $55,730 (26 filings) FY2022: median $94,297 (18 filings) FY2023: median $84,850 (12 filings) FY2024: median $70,013 (14 filings) FY2025: median $72,530 (13 filings) FY2026: median $72,529 (12 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 13 filings FY20 FY2021: 26 filings FY21 FY2022: 18 filings FY22 FY2023: 12 filings FY23 FY2024: 14 filings FY24 FY2025: 13 filings FY25 FY2026: 12 filings FY26 26
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$53,504$52,504$75,33013
FY2021$55,730$55,339$58,24926
FY2022$94,297$55,762$103,25118
FY2023$84,850$70,013$89,81912
FY2024$70,013$70,013$72,53014
FY2025$72,530$64,356$72,53013
FY2026$72,529$69,397$80,08012

Cost of living

Memphis's median entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $72,530 is worth about $78,700 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Memphis = 92.2).

Compared with all workers here

All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Memphis, TN area earned a median of $86,380 in May 2025 (50 employed). The H-1B median here is $72,530, 16% 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
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital$72,53019
The University of Tennessee Health Science Centertoo few5

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $72,530 25
Mid-level · Level II $86,320 29
Senior · Level III too few 6
Expert · Level IV $104,000 28

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$53,102$72,53025
Mid-level · Level II$57,554$86,32029
Expert · Level IV$66,477$104,00028

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.