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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biology Scientist in California is $63,911 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Biology Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Biology Scientist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $69,861 | $5,822 | $1,343 | $34 |
| Average | $63,911 | $5,326 | $1,229 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,097 | $4,675 | $1,079 | $27 |
MyOme - Menlo Park, CA
GondolaBio Service Co, Inc. - Palo Alto, CA
Dualitas Therapeutics - South San Francisco, CA
Dualitas Therapeutics - South San Francisco, CA
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Biology S... Level Biology Scientist | $65,539 |
| Biologist... Level Biology Scientist | $75,735 |
| Biologist... Level Biology Scientist | $94,533 |
| Biologist... Level Biology Scientist | $136,959 |
| Biologist... Level Biology Scientist | $155,239 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Biology Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $95,867 | $46.0 | 50% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $69,861 | $5,822 | $1,343 | $34 |
| Average | $63,911 | $5,326 | $1,229 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,097 | $4,675 | $1,079 | $27 |
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.
Geisinger
DANVILLE, PA
Geisinger | DANVILLE, PA
Job Summary Join our team at Geisinger Medical Laboratories. You can find your passion for caring and innovation as a team member in our state-of-the-art l... more
13 Days Ago
Geisinger
WILKES-BARRE, PA
Geisinger | WILKES-BARRE, PA
Job Summary Join our team at Geisinger Medical Laboratories. You can find your passion for caring and innovation as a team member in our state-of-the-art l... more
13 Days Ago
Geisinger
LEWISTOWN, PA
Geisinger | LEWISTOWN, PA
Job Summary Join our team at Geisinger Medical Laboratories. You can find your passion for caring and innovation as a team member in our state-of-the-art l... more
14 Days Ago
Intermountain Health
MURRAY, UT
Intermountain Health | MURRAY, UT
Job Description: The Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Scientist performs a variety of laboratory tests of varying complexity to be utilized in the d... more
5 Days Ago
GE Vernova
NISKAYUNA, NY
GE Vernova | NISKAYUNA, NY
Job Description Summary As a Principal Scientist in the AI – Computer Vision - Robotics – Software lab in GE Vernova Advanced Research, you will have the o... more
5 Days Ago
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
LUIS LOPEZ, NM
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