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Biologist V Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biologist V in the United States is $137,002 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $153,069
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $124,939 to $145,412
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $113,956
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Biologist V Salaries

A Biologist V'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 V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biologist V'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 Vs 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 Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $151,689.
  • California: $151,113.
  • Massachusetts: $149,099.

Top Paying Cities for Biologist V

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: $172,801
  • San Francisco: $170,909
  • Oakland: $167,307

What Skills Can Increase a Biologist V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.54% 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 2.77% 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.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 2.06% 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 9.54%
SOP 2.77%
Data Analysis 2.06%
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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 V's salary.

  • Microbiology: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Research and Development: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microbiology $173,993
27%
Research and Development $156,182
14%
Problem Solving $154,812
13%
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Biologist V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Biologist V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $153,325. While startup companies pay approximate $129,920.

Biologist V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $129,920
Growth Stage 51~500 $137,345
Established 501~5000 $148,119
Enterprise 5000+ $153,325

Biologist V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biologist V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 155% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% 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 V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Biologist V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$219,203$105.060%
Financial Services$178,103$86.030%
Biotechnology$164,402$79.020%
Healthcare$157,552$76.015%
Chemicals$150,702$72.010%

How Education impacts an Biologist V's Salary?

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

Biologist V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biologist V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 1.3%
Associates 1.3%
Bachelors 13.3%
Masters 22.2%
Doctorate 62.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Biologist V'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
$124,939
Average $137,002/year
$145,412
$10,412
Average $11,417/month
$12,118
$2,403
Average $2,635/week
$2,796
$60
Average $66/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $145,412 $12,118 $2,796 $70
Average $137,002 $11,417 $2,635 $66
25th Percentile $124,939 $10,412 $2,403 $60

Biologist V Salary Growth & Career Path

Biologist V

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Biologist V, 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
Geologist Manager $139,750 2%
Molecular Biology Senior Manager $144,043 5%
Physicist VI $186,405 36%

Most common benefits for Biologist V

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

Common company salaries for Biologist V

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

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FAQ about Biologist V

1. Where can a Biologist V earn the most?

A Biologist V'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 V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Biologist V is $172,801.

2. What is the highest pay for Biologist V?

The highest pay for Biologist V is $153,069.

3. What is the lowest pay for Biologist V?

The lowest pay for Biologist V is $113,956.

4. What are the responsibilities of Biologist V?

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. Typically requires a PhD. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

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

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Biologist V roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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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