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Biologist III Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biologist III in the United States is $83,428 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,912
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,648 to $92,580
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,565
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Biologist III Salaries

A Biologist III'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 III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biologist III'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
View as Graph

How Do Biologist IIIs 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 IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $92,371.
  • California: $92,021.
  • Massachusetts: $90,795.

Top Paying Cities for Biologist III

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: $105,228
  • San Francisco: $104,076
  • Oakland: $101,882

What Skills Can Increase a Biologist III'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.94%
Microbiology 2.56%
Data Analysis 1.94%
See More Skills

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 III'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 $100,114
20%
Immunology $95,942
15%
Innovation $95,108
14%
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Biologist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Biologist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $93,368. While startup companies pay approximate $79,116.

Biologist III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $79,116
Growth Stage 51~500 $83,637
Established 501~5000 $90,198
Enterprise 5000+ $93,368

Biologist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biologist III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% 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 III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Biologist III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$108,456$52.030%
Financial Services$104,285$50.025%
Biotechnology$100,114$48.020%
Energy & Utilities$95,942$46.015%
Chemicals$91,771$44.010%

How Education impacts an Biologist III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Biologist III 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 III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Biologist III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biologist III
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%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Biologist III'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
$75,648
Average $83,428/year
$92,580
$6,304
Average $6,952/month
$7,715
$1,455
Average $1,604/week
$1,780
$36
Average $40/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $92,580 $7,715 $1,780 $45
Average $83,428 $6,952 $1,604 $40
25th Percentile $75,648 $6,304 $1,455 $36

Biologist III Salary Growth & Career Path

Biologist III

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Biologist III, 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 IV $120,870 45%
Geologist IV $109,159 31%
Geophysicist IV $156,283 87%
Hydrologist IV $142,646 71%

Most common benefits for Biologist III

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

Common company salaries for Biologist III

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

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FAQ about Biologist III

1. Where can a Biologist III earn the most?

A Biologist III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Biologist III is $105,228.

2. What is the highest pay for Biologist III?

The highest pay for Biologist III is $100,912.

3. What is the lowest pay for Biologist III?

The lowest pay for Biologist III is $68,565.

4. What are the responsibilities of Biologist III?

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. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

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

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Biologist III roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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