Expert Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 50 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $166,400 |
| 25th | $167,877 |
| 50th (median) | $175,000 |
| 75th | $195,551 |
| 90th | $221,776 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $128,794 | $113,506 | $150,000 | 43 |
| FY2021 | $130,298 | $128,794 | $150,000 | 66 |
| FY2022 | $136,000 | $127,909 | $160,000 | 78 |
| FY2023 | $140,000 | $129,002 | $155,500 | 51 |
| FY2024 | $170,248 | $158,888 | $190,000 | 34 |
| FY2025 | $172,500 | $166,400 | $202,313 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $175,000 | $167,877 | $184,160 | 28 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $175,000 is worth about $151,400 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 $175,000, 27% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 7 |
| Natera | too few | 3 |
| Astera Institute | too few | 2 |
| Calico Life Sciences | too few | 2 |
| Eigen Therapeutics | too few | 2 |
| Exelixis | too few | 2 |
| Genentech | too few | 2 |
| Grail | too few | 2 |
| Illumina | too few | 2 |
| Personalis | 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.