Entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 83 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes La Jolla, Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside, Solana Beach.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,907 |
| 25th | $71,380 |
| 50th (median) | $76,000 |
| 75th | $80,000 |
| 90th | $85,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $56,880 | $56,742 | $63,294 | 53 |
| FY2021 | $63,294 | $63,294 | $65,400 | 49 |
| FY2022 | $66,172 | $62,400 | $71,843 | 51 |
| FY2023 | $64,480 | $64,480 | $71,793 | 42 |
| FY2024 | $73,798 | $68,008 | $78,200 | 43 |
| FY2025 | $74,500 | $71,380 | $78,525 | 47 |
| FY2026 | $78,271 | $71,542 | $82,025 | 36 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $76,000 is worth about $67,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $108,350 in May 2025 (1,960 employed). The H-1B median here is $76,000, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Salk Institute for Biological Studies | $78,000 | 25 |
| La Jolla Institute for Immunology | $71,760 | 12 |
| The Scripps Research Institute | $70,990 | 11 |
| J. Craig Venter Institute | too few | 4 |
| University of Georgia | too few | 3 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 2 |
| San Diego State University Research Foundation | too few | 2 |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | too few | 2 |
| Schrodinger | 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 | $76,000 | 83 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,185 | 62 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,000 | 40 |
| Expert · Level IV | $147,175 | 18 |
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 | $73,798 | $76,000 | 83 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,474 | $97,185 | 62 |
| Senior · Level III | $116,376 | $120,000 | 40 |
| Expert · Level IV | $135,304 | $147,175 | 18 |
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.