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Biologist II Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biologist II in the United States is $66,838 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,740
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,239 to $73,068
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,410
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Biologist II Salaries

A Biologist II'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 Biologist II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biologist II'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:

  • Biologist I (0-2 years): $57,840
  • Biologist II (2-4 years): $66,838
  • Biologist III (4-7 years): $83,428
  • Biologist IV (7+ years): $120,870
  • Biologist V (7-10 years): $137,002
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Biologist I0-2 years$57,840
Biologist II2-4 years$66,838
Biologist III4-7 years$83,428
Biologist IV7+ years$120,870
Biologist V7-10 years$137,002
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How Do Biologist IIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Biologist IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $74,003.
  • California: $73,722.
  • Massachusetts: $72,740.

Top Paying Cities for Biologist II

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: $84,303
  • San Francisco: $83,380
  • Oakland: $81,623

What Skills Can Increase a Biologist II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.53% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Environmental Compliance (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements such as site permits to operate. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related, environmental concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being aligned with corporate performance goals and being integrated to some extent to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps, and gaps. Compliance with the above requirements and obligations, requires meeting certain conditions. Typically, these include: Managing monitoring programmes or schedules, ensuring that the monitoring required in the permit has been done, at the correct locations, for the correct parameters, and at the correct frequency Pre-processing, performing calculations and validating the data for compliance with any alert or reporting levels Generating routine compliance reports for authorities.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.53%
SOP 2.46%
Environmental Compliance 1.81%
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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 Biologist II's salary.

  • Drug Discovery: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Resourcing: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Discovery $82,879
24%
Resourcing $78,200
17%
Cell Biology $76,864
15%
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Biologist II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Biologist II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $74,801. While startup companies pay approximate $63,383.

Biologist II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $63,383
Growth Stage 51~500 $67,005
Established 501~5000 $72,262
Enterprise 5000+ $74,801

Biologist II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biologist II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 130% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Biologist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Biologist II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Biologist II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$100,257$48.050%
Financial Services$86,889$42.030%
Biotechnology$80,206$39.020%
Healthcare$80,206$39.020%
Chemicals$73,522$35.010%

How Education impacts an Biologist II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Biologist II enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Biologist II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,405 and $69,282.

Biologist II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biologist II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 42.9%
Associates 44.4%
Bachelors 42.9%
Masters 44.4%
Doctorate 12.1%
View as Graph

Biologist II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Biologist II'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 August 01, 2026
$58,239
Average $66,838/year
$73,068
$4,853
Average $5,570/month
$6,089
$1,120
Average $1,285/week
$1,405
$28
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,068 $6,089 $1,405 $35
Average $66,838 $5,570 $1,285 $32
25th Percentile $58,239 $4,853 $1,120 $28

Biologist II Salary Growth & Career Path

Biologist II

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Biologist II, 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Biologist III $83,428 25%
Geologist III $85,576 28%
Geophysicist III $141,464 112%
Hydrologist III $112,995 69%

Most common benefits for Biologist II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Biologist II

Here are companies hiring for Biologist II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Biologist II

1. Where can a Biologist II earn the most?

A Biologist II's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Biologist II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Biologist II is $84,303.

2. What is the highest pay for Biologist II?

The highest pay for Biologist II is $78,740.

3. What is the lowest pay for Biologist II?

The lowest pay for Biologist II is $50,410.

4. What are the responsibilities of Biologist II?

Uncovers and verifies the specific molecular "weak spots" of a disease through rigorous laboratory testing to provide the essential data needed to turn a discovery into a real-world medicine. Pinpoints exactly how a sickness develops and how new treatments can safely stop it by studying the chemical processes of cells and microorganisms. Isolates key proteins to ensure experimental drugs are both effective and non-toxic. May require an advanced degree. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Biologist II?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Biologist II roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

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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