Entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 111 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Ashburn, Frederick.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $63,440 |
| 25th | $71,630 |
| 50th (median) | $87,000 |
| 75th | $103,020 |
| 90th | $119,420 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $74,069 | $65,868 | $81,722 | 95 |
| FY2021 | $80,880 | $71,760 | $87,506 | 143 |
| FY2022 | $80,616 | $70,750 | $90,000 | 104 |
| FY2023 | $78,944 | $70,000 | $88,789 | 56 |
| FY2024 | $94,199 | $80,664 | $105,155 | 103 |
| FY2025 | $86,470 | $72,000 | $104,505 | 74 |
| FY2026 | $88,458 | $70,700 | $103,000 | 37 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Molecular and Cellular Biologist salary of $87,000 is worth about $79,900 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 $87,000, 24% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health, HHS | $103,853 | 32 |
| The Henry M. Jackson Foundation | $73,000 | 16 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | $121,325 | 12 |
| Georgetown University | too few | 5 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 4 |
| George Mason University | too few | 3 |
| Hememics Biotechnologies | too few | 3 |
| Axle Informatics | too few | 2 |
| Children's National Medical Center | too few | 2 |
| Contemporaries | 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 | $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.