Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 59 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Franklinton, Holly Springs.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,000 |
| 25th | $72,000 |
| 50th (median) | $82,000 |
| 75th | $103,500 |
| 90th | $128,881 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $76,000 | $57,500 | $98,500 | 31 |
| FY2021 | $88,000 | $70,845 | $101,000 | 29 |
| FY2022 | $76,500 | $62,000 | $107,500 | 29 |
| FY2023 | $79,000 | $69,027 | $114,000 | 34 |
| FY2024 | $83,500 | $75,000 | $111,750 | 36 |
| FY2025 | $75,000 | $72,000 | $106,230 | 40 |
| FY2026 | $84,469 | $68,525 | $99,303 | 19 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $82,000 is worth about $83,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $102,400 in May 2025 (630 employed). The H-1B median here is $82,000, 20% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Zifo Technologies | $80,235 | 32 |
| North Carolina State University | $65,000 | 11 |
| PPD Development, L.P. | too few | 6 |
| Duke University | 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 | 32 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $93,571 | 16 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 6 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $71,926 | $72,000 | 32 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,141 | $93,571 | 16 |
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.