Senior Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Philadelphia, PA
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Exton, West Point, Collegeville, Spring House, Malvern.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,723 |
| 25th | $103,418 |
| 50th (median) | $115,253 |
| 75th | $121,742 |
| 90th | $130,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $84,699 | $79,885 | $106,250 | 10 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2024 | $110,013 | $91,110 | $114,426 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $115,253 | $105,274 | $121,881 | 14 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Philadelphia's median senior Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $115,253 is worth about $112,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Philadelphia = 102.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Philadelphia, PA area earned a median of $106,670 in May 2025 (1,140 employed). The H-1B median here is $115,253, 8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania | too few | 5 |
| Frontage Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| Iovance Biotherapeutics Manufacturing | too few | 2 |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | too few | 2 |
| The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | 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 | $72,000 | 55 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,072 | 37 |
| Senior · Level III | $115,253 | 21 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,000 | 17 |
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 | $65,187 | $72,000 | 55 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $82,618 | $85,072 | 37 |
| Senior · Level III | $104,894 | $115,253 | 21 |
| Expert · Level IV | $106,808 | $138,000 | 17 |
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.