Biology Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Biology Scientist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biology Scientist in the United States is $57,943 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,248
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,859 to $63,337
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,409
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View as table View as graph 25% $50,859 10% $44,409 90% $68,248 75% $63,337 $57,943 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Biology Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $63,337 $5,278 $1,218 $30
Average $57,943 $4,829 $1,114 $28
25th Percentile $50,859 $4,238 $978 $24
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Key Factors That Influence Biology Scientist Salaries

A Biology Scientist'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 Biology Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biology Scientist'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): $59,419
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $68,663
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,706
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,170
  • Expert (over 8 years): $140,742
Levels Salary
Biology S... Level Biology Scientist$59,419
Biologist... Level Biology Scientist$68,663
Biologist... Level Biology Scientist$85,706
Biologist... Level Biology Scientist$124,170
Biologist... Level Biology Scientist$140,742
$59,419 0 yr
$68,663 < 2 yrs
$85,706 2-4 yrs
$124,170 5-8 yrs
$140,742 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Biology Scientists

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: $73,084
  • San Francisco: $72,284
  • Oakland: $70,760

What Skills Can Increase a Biology Scientist'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 Biology Scientist'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
$67,214
16%
Collaboration
$66,055
14%
Biochemistry
$64,896
12%
Cell Culture
$64,317
11%
Innovation
$64,317
11%
Analysis
$63,738
10%
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Biology Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biology Scientist 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, Biology Scientist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Biology Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Biology Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$86,915$42.050%

How Education impacts a Biology Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Biology Scientists 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 Biology Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $55,345 and $58,563).

Biology Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biology Scientist
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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Biology Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Biology Scientist'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 Biology Scientist

Salaries for a Biology Scientist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $56,232 in 2023 to around $55,992 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Biology Scientist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Biology Scientist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$56,232
2024
$56,203
2025
$55,992
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $56,232
2024 $56,203
2025 $55,992
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Biology Scientist

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

Here are companies hiring for Biology Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Biology Scientist Job

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

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

    14 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    15 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    17 Days Ago

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FAQ about Biology Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Biology Scientist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Biology Scientist 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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