Senior Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 120 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $139,339 |
| 25th | $140,160 |
| 50th (median) | $143,169 |
| 75th | $153,769 |
| 90th | $170,250 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,000 | $95,888 | $112,882 | 73 |
| FY2021 | $110,099 | $108,202 | $130,000 | 73 |
| FY2022 | $114,000 | $108,000 | $122,600 | 85 |
| FY2023 | $120,964 | $108,225 | $132,195 | 72 |
| FY2024 | $137,280 | $127,150 | $145,800 | 81 |
| FY2025 | $142,315 | $139,339 | $153,000 | 61 |
| FY2026 | $143,777 | $140,213 | $154,695 | 59 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median senior Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $143,169 is worth about $123,800 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 $143,169, 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Genentech | $140,213 | 10 |
| AbbVie | too few | 6 |
| CZ Biohub SF | too few | 6 |
| Calico Life Sciences | too few | 5 |
| Mammoth Biosciences | too few | 5 |
| Altos Labs | too few | 4 |
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 4 |
| Natera | too few | 4 |
| The J. David Gladstone Institutes | too few | 4 |
| Epicrispr Biotechnologies | too few | 3 |
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.