Biological Researcher Salary in the United States

How much does a Biological Researcher make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biological Researcher in the United States is $56,183 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $66,175
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,314 to $61,414
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,061
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View as table View as graph 25% $49,314 10% $43,061 90% $66,175 75% $61,414 $56,183 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Biological Researcher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,414 $5,118 $1,181 $30
Average $56,183 $4,682 $1,080 $27
25th Percentile $49,314 $4,110 $948 $24
Check out Biological Researcher Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Biological Researcher Salaries

A Biological Researcher'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 Biological Researcher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biological Researcher'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-Level (less than 1 year): $57,614
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,577
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $83,103
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $120,399
  • Expert (over 8 years): $136,468
Levels Salary
Biologica... Level Biological Researcher$57,614
Biologist... Level Biological Researcher$66,577
Biologist... Level Biological Researcher$83,103
Biologist... Level Biological Researcher$120,399
Biologist... Level Biological Researcher$136,468
$57,614 0 yr
$66,577 < 2 yrs
$83,103 2-4 yrs
$120,399 5-8 yrs
$136,468 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Biological Researchers

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: $70,864
  • San Francisco: $70,088
  • Oakland: $68,611

What Skills Can Increase a Biological Researcher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.99% 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 2.67% 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.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2% 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.99%
Microbiology 2.67%
SOP 2%
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 Biological Researcher's salary.
  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Biochemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cell Biology
$65,173
16%
Collaboration
$64,049
14%
Biochemistry
$62,925
12%
Cell Culture
$62,364
11%
Innovation
$62,364
11%
Analysis
$61,802
10%
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Biological Researcher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biological Researcher roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Biological Researcher positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Biological Researcher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Biological Researcher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$84,275$41.050%

How Education impacts a Biological Researcher's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Biological Researchers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Biological Researcher with a Bachelor's Degree is between $55,345 and $58,563).

Biological Researcher Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biological Researcher
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 1.3%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 58.9%
Masters 24.1%
Doctorate 12.5%
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Biological Researcher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Biological Researcher'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

Salary Trends for Biological Researcher

Salaries for a Biological Researcher can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,525 in 2023 to around $54,292 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Biological Researcher salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Biological Researcher Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,525
2024
$54,496
2025
$54,292
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,525
2024 $54,496
2025 $54,292
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Biological Researcher

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

Here are companies hiring for Biological Researcher and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Biological Researcher Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Biological Researcher job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Commercial. About the Company. Globally-recognized manufacturer of packaging components & delivery systems for injectable drugs. Industry. ... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Biological Researcher

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Biological Researcher?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Biological Researcher 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.)

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