Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 585 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes South San Francisco, Berkeley, Foster City, Redwood City, Emeryville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $80,034 |
| 25th | $90,000 |
| 50th (median) | $114,400 |
| 75th | $142,692 |
| 90th | $169,600 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $95,888 | $72,828 | $110,160 | 257 |
| FY2021 | $104,785 | $83,967 | $127,909 | 364 |
| FY2022 | $107,349 | $86,424 | $127,878 | 396 |
| FY2023 | $103,752 | $86,424 | $127,410 | 358 |
| FY2024 | $110,000 | $85,198 | $139,339 | 370 |
| FY2025 | $112,549 | $89,050 | $139,800 | 333 |
| FY2026 | $120,000 | $93,211 | $147,825 | 252 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $114,400 is worth about $99,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $138,160 in May 2025 (4,280 employed). The H-1B median here is $114,400, 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Francisco | $83,361 | 61 |
| University of California, Berkeley | $85,000 | 41 |
| Genentech | $126,100 | 32 |
| Gilead Sciences | $112,549 | 25 |
| The J. David Gladstone Institutes | $77,439 | 22 |
| Calico Life Sciences | $158,000 | 19 |
| CZ Biohub SF | $120,000 | 16 |
| Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | $97,393 | 16 |
| Insitro | $112,404 | 14 |
| Amgen | $139,590 | 13 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $86,000 | 114 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $115,000 | 183 |
| Senior · Level III | $143,169 | 120 |
| Expert · Level IV | $175,000 | 50 |
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 | $85,197 | $86,000 | 114 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $112,258 | $115,000 | 183 |
| Senior · Level III | $140,213 | $143,169 | 120 |
| Expert · Level IV | $167,877 | $175,000 | 50 |
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.