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Senior Biologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Biologist make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Biologist in the United States is $83,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Senior Biologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,076
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,600 to $92,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,407
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View as table View as graph 25% $75,600 10% $68,407 90% $101,076 75% $92,700 $83,500 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Biologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $92,700 $7,725 $1,783 $45
Average $83,500 $6,958 $1,606 $40
25th Percentile $75,600 $6,300 $1,454 $36
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Key Factors That Influence Senior Biologist Salaries

A Senior Biologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Senior Biologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Biologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Biologist (0-2 years): $57,847
  • Intermediate Biologist (2-4 years): $66,832
  • Senior Biologist (4-7 years): $83,434
  • Specialist Biologist (7+ years): $120,822
  • Expert Biologist (7-10 years): $137,005
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Biologist0-2 years$57,847
Intermediate Biologist2-4 years$66,832
Senior Biologist4-7 years$83,434
Specialist Biologist7+ years$120,822
Expert Biologist7-10 years$137,005
$57,847 Entry Bio...
$66,832 Intermedi...
$83,434 Senior Bi...
$120,822 Specialis...
$137,005 Expert Bi...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Senior Biologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $105,300
  • San Francisco: $104,100
  • Oakland: $101,900

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Biologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.94% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microbiology (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Microbiology (from Greek μῑκρος, mīkros, "small"; βίος, bios, "life"; and -λογία, -logia) is the study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology. Eukaryotic microorganisms possess membrane-bound cell organelles and include fungi and protists, whereas prokaryotic organisms—all of which are microorganisms—are conventionally classified as lacking membrane-bound organelles and include Bacteria and Archaea. Microbiologists traditionally relied on culture, staining, and microscopy. However, less than 1% of the microorganisms present in common environments can be cultured in isolation using current means. Microbiologists often rely on molecular biology tools such as DNA sequence based identification, for example 16s rRNA gene sequence used for bacteria identification.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 1.94% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.94%
Microbiology 2.56%
Data Analysis 1.94%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Senior Biologist's salary.
  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Immunology: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cell Biology
$100,200
20%
Immunology
$96,025
15%
Innovation
$95,190
14%
Collaboration
$94,355
13%
Cell Culture
$93,520
12%
Biochemistry
$93,520
12%
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How Education impacts a Senior Biologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Biologists enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Senior Biologist with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $80,190 and $87,169).

Senior Biologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Biologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 18.4%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 18.4%
Masters 44.3%
Doctorate 36.3%
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Senior Biologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Biologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

Senior Biologist Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Senior Biologist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Senior Biologist Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Specialist Biologist $120,900 45%
Mine Geologist IV $109,300 31%
Specialist Geophysicist $156,300 87%
Microbiologist, Specialist $93,600 12%

Salary Trends for Senior Biologist

Salaries for a Senior Biologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $83,250 in 2023 to around $81,132 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Senior Biologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Senior Biologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,250
2024
$82,484
2025
$81,132
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,250
2024 $82,484
2025 $81,132
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Senior Biologist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Senior Biologist

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FAQ about Senior Biologist

1. How much does a biology major make in the US?

A Senior Biologist in the US typically earns between $73,400 and $99,600 annually, with a median salary of $84,800. This reflects a more specialized role within the biology field, differing from general biology majors, who may earn an average of $172,166, with top earners making significantly more.

2. Do field biologists travel a lot?

Field biologists often travel extensively as part of their job. They may conduct research in various locations, including remote areas, to study ecosystems, wildlife, and environmental conditions. This travel can be essential for collecting data and samples, which can influence their salary range, typically between $73,400 and $99,600, depending on experience and location.

3. Which country gives the highest salary to a data scientist?

The average salary for a Senior Biologist ranges from $73,400 to $99,600, with a midpoint of $84,800. Countries like the United States typically offer the highest salaries for this role, followed by Canada and Australia. This reflects the demand for skilled professionals in the biological sciences across these regions.

4. Which country pays biologists the most?

For the highest salary, Switzerland stands out. The average salary for a Senior Biologist there is approximately $99,600, making it one of the top-paying countries for biologists. In comparison, the minimum salary is around $73,400, while the mid-range salary is about $84,800, reflecting a competitive pay scale for professionals in this field.

5. What is the highest salary for a Biologist?

The highest salary for a Senior Biologist is $99,600 per year. The salary range for this position typically falls between $73,400 and $84,800, reflecting the varying levels of experience and expertise within the field.

6. What does a senior Biologist do?

At the senior level, biologists lead research and development projects in bio-based technologies, driving discoveries that enhance knowledge and innovation in the bioenergy sector. They typically earn between $73,400 and $99,600, with a median salary of $84,800, reflecting their expertise and the critical nature of their work in advancing scientific applications.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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