Entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 32 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Franklinton, Holly Springs.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,500 |
| 25th | $71,982 |
| 50th (median) | $72,000 |
| 75th | $75,250 |
| 90th | $84,469 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $62,000 | $61,400 | $70,000 | 13 |
| FY2023 | $68,168 | $62,000 | $73,625 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $75,000 | $64,000 | $77,211 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $72,000 | $72,000 | $74,000 | 23 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $72,000 is worth about $73,400 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 $72,000, 30% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zifo Technologies | $72,000 | 19 |
| North Carolina State University | too few | 7 |
| 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.