Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Seattle, WA
Based on 135 certified H-1B filings in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redmond, Everett, Bothell, Bellevue, Kirkland.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,969 |
| 25th | $78,868 |
| 50th (median) | $85,656 |
| 75th | $109,983 |
| 90th | $134,850 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $64,500 | $55,312 | $85,000 | 70 |
| FY2021 | $73,451 | $58,662 | $88,792 | 86 |
| FY2022 | $75,000 | $62,757 | $103,960 | 86 |
| FY2023 | $75,392 | $65,484 | $96,508 | 98 |
| FY2024 | $85,000 | $76,431 | $110,000 | 73 |
| FY2025 | $82,500 | $77,976 | $102,137 | 64 |
| FY2026 | $87,235 | $80,168 | $109,992 | 71 |
Cost of living
Seattle's median Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $85,656 is worth about $77,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $108,580 in May 2025 (1,880 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,656, 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | $80,086 | 26 |
| Seattle Children's Hospital | $77,969 | 19 |
| University of Washington | $82,416 | 17 |
| Allen Institute | $90,900 | 13 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | too few | 8 |
| Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences | too few | 6 |
| Institute for Systems Biology | too few | 6 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | too few | 4 |
| Altasciences Preclinical Seattle | too few | 3 |
| ByteDance | 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 | $80,171 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $86,259 | 58 |
| Senior · Level III | $89,349 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $113,053 | 13 |
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 | $56,202 | $80,171 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $64,085 | $86,259 | 58 |
| Senior · Level III | $71,947 | $89,349 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $79,830 | $113,053 | 13 |
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.