Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 312 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Ashburn, Frederick.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,000 |
| 25th | $83,135 |
| 50th (median) | $99,768 |
| 75th | $120,708 |
| 90th | $147,968 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $82,930 | $70,996 | $100,000 | 202 |
| FY2021 | $87,037 | $77,724 | $103,768 | 264 |
| FY2022 | $90,000 | $75,000 | $103,690 | 217 |
| FY2023 | $93,000 | $80,000 | $108,125 | 220 |
| FY2024 | $105,000 | $89,870 | $121,264 | 252 |
| FY2025 | $96,972 | $80,648 | $119,630 | 194 |
| FY2026 | $101,875 | $87,365 | $123,248 | 118 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $99,768 is worth about $91,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Molecular and Cellular Biologists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $114,920 in May 2025 (5,720 employed). The H-1B median here is $99,768, 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health, HHS | $108,478 | 79 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | $125,031 | 26 |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | $88,009 | 26 |
| The Henry M. Jackson Foundation | $73,800 | 25 |
| Axle Informatics | $103,499 | 15 |
| Children's National Medical Center | $69,655 | 15 |
| Georgetown University | too few | 7 |
| Kelly Services | too few | 7 |
| Leidos Biomedical Research | too few | 7 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 7 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $87,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,706 | 89 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,700 | 53 |
| Expert · Level IV | $145,492 | 37 |
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 | $53,040 | $87,000 | 111 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,706 | $92,706 | 89 |
| Senior · Level III | $72,862 | $119,700 | 53 |
| Expert · Level IV | $83,866 | $145,492 | 37 |
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.