Entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 114 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $77,069 |
| 25th | $85,197 |
| 50th (median) | $86,000 |
| 75th | $104,750 |
| 90th | $122,357 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $64,700 | $60,653 | $73,547 | 35 |
| FY2021 | $71,800 | $67,018 | $82,992 | 67 |
| FY2022 | $71,843 | $66,269 | $82,000 | 70 |
| FY2023 | $83,650 | $74,450 | $95,000 | 68 |
| FY2024 | $85,098 | $76,461 | $92,500 | 72 |
| FY2025 | $86,000 | $85,197 | $100,000 | 69 |
| FY2026 | $90,000 | $84,885 | $110,000 | 45 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $86,000 is worth about $74,400 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 $86,000, 38% 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 J. David Gladstone Institutes | $76,010 | 16 |
| Genentech | $85,197 | 10 |
| CZ Biohub SF | too few | 8 |
| Zifo Technologies | too few | 8 |
| Calico Life Sciences | too few | 4 |
| University of California, San Francisco | too few | 4 |
| Amgen | too few | 3 |
| BillionToOne | too few | 3 |
| Roche Molecular Systems | too few | 3 |
| 10x Genomics | 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 | $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.