Molecular Biology Scientist Salary in the United States
How much does a Molecular Biology Scientist make in the United States?
As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Molecular Biology Scientist in the United States is $58,457 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.
However, a Molecular Biology Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,607
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,202 to $63,770
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,506
10%$46,506
50% (Median)$58,457
90%$68,607
Molecular Biology Scientist Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Molecular Biology Scientist Salaries
A Molecular 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 Molecular Biology Scientist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Molecular 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:
How Do Molecular Biology Scientist 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 Molecular Biology Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $64,724.
California: $64,478.
Massachusetts: $63,619.
District of Columbia$64,724
California$64,478
Massachusetts$63,619
Washington$63,385
New Jersey$63,362
Alaska$63,280
Connecticut$62,473
New York$62,146
Hawaii$61,099
Rhode Island$60,608
Maryland$60,275
Minnesota$59,819
Colorado$59,644
Illinois$59,585
Oregon$59,363
Delaware$59,200
New Hampshire$59,097
Virginia$58,866
Pennsylvania$58,194
Nevada$57,855
North Dakota$57,744
Michigan$57,569
Wisconsin$57,504
Vermont$57,376
Texas$57,019
Maine$56,996
Arizona$56,961
Ohio$56,920
Georgia$56,382
Indiana$56,113
Wyoming$56,060
Utah$55,979
Iowa$55,943
Kansas$55,663
Louisiana$55,581
North Carolina$55,552
Missouri$55,540
Florida$55,312
Montana$55,189
Nebraska$55,072
Kentucky$55,008
South Carolina$54,774
Tennessee$54,628
Idaho$54,570
New Mexico$54,143
Oklahoma$54,049
Alabama$53,705
South Dakota$53,126
Arkansas$52,810
West Virginia$52,641
Mississippi$52,132
Top Paying Cities for Molecular 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: $73,732
San Francisco: $72,925
Oakland: $71,388
San Jose, CA$73,732
San Francisco, CA$72,925
Oakland, CA$71,388
New York, NY$67,307
Paramus, NJ$66,489
Queens Village, NY$66,486
Passaic, NJ$66,430
Bergenfield, NJ$66,425
Stamford, CT$66,296
Huntington, NY$66,272
Newark, NJ$65,840
Bridgeport, CT$65,717
Vallejo, CA$65,601
New Brunswick, NJ$65,577
Petaluma, CA$65,542
Middlesex, NJ$65,431
Somerset, NJ$65,390
Santa Cruz, CA$65,314
Boston, MA$64,958
Monterey, CA$64,752
Seattle, WA$64,618
Santa Rosa, CA$64,607
Los Angeles, CA$64,589
Juneau, AK$64,437
Washington, DC$64,373
Orange, CA$64,165
Santa Ana, CA$64,011
Long Beach, CA$63,952
Anaheim, CA$63,940
Anchorage, AK$63,911
Santa Maria, CA$63,736
Everett, WA$63,724
Danbury, CT$63,518
Bremerton, WA$63,438
Tacoma, WA$63,227
New Suffolk, NY$63,226
Sacramento, CA$63,210
Santa Barbara, CA$63,145
Trenton, NJ$63,081
San Diego, CA$63,081
Brockton, MA$63,017
Fairbanks, AK$62,874
Lompoc, CA$62,724
Lowell, MA$62,677
Ventura, CA$62,666
Nashua, NH$62,654
Stockton, CA$62,648
Modesto, CA$62,222
Poughkeepsie, NY$62,093
Olympia, WA$61,982
Kennewick, WA$61,982
New Haven, CT$61,959
Lawrence, MA$61,748
Hartford, CT$61,690
Riverside, CA$61,678
New Bedford, MA$61,620
Richland, WA$61,620
Bakersfield, CA$61,538
San Bernardino, CA$61,514
New Britain, CT$61,509
Atlantic City, NJ$61,509
New London, CT$61,485
Norwich, CT$61,468
Portsmouth, NH$61,456
Boulder, CO$61,332
Portland, OR$61,251
Worcester, MA$61,246
Minneapolis, MN$61,064
Philadelphia, PA$60,982
Honolulu, HI$60,790
Saint Paul, MN$60,761
Vineland, NJ$60,749
Providence, RI$60,579
Chicago, IL$60,410
Bellingham, WA$60,339
Springfield, MA$60,293
Baltimore, MD$60,275
Chico, CA$60,129
Pittsfield, MA$59,971
Manchester, NH$59,860
Spokane, WA$59,603
Denver, CO$59,597
Albany, NY$59,322
Troy, NY$59,299
Nassau, NY$59,236
Schenectady, NY$59,176
Wilmington, DE$59,129
Burlington, VT$59,048
Salem, OR$59,024
Portland, ME$58,843
Yakima, WA$58,784
Rochester, MN$58,603
Reno, NV$58,574
Fresno, CA$58,574
Milwaukee, WI$58,521
Detroit, MI$58,463
Ann Arbor, MI$58,453
Allentown, PA$58,445
Colorado Springs, CO$58,346
Syracuse, NY$58,317
Carson City, NV$58,317
Houston, TX$58,235
Eugene, OR$58,206
Gary, IN$58,136
Springfield, OR$58,089
Bismarck, ND$58,077
Galveston, TX$58,036
Medford, OR$57,949
Fort Collins, CO$57,925
Concord, NH$57,896
Austin, TX$57,878
Mesa, AZ$57,756
Reading, PA$57,750
Phoenix, AZ$57,744
Dallas, TX$57,726
Saint Cloud, MN$57,670
Madison, WI$57,592
Utica, NY$57,434
Rochester, NY$57,341
Des Moines, IA$57,335
Raleigh, NC$57,329
Atlanta, GA$57,241
Battle Creek, MI$57,224
Salt Lake City, UT$57,206
Lancaster, PA$57,118
Harrisburg, PA$57,037
Kansas City, MO$56,978
Champaign, IL$56,966
Kansas City, KS$56,966
Fort Worth, TX$56,961
Columbus, OH$56,951
Boca Raton, FL$56,937
Pittsburgh, PA$56,914
Richmond, VA$56,890
Indianapolis, IN$56,879
Cleveland, OH$56,873
Las Vegas, NV$56,803
Cincinnati, OH$56,803
Petersburg, VA$56,715
Huntsville, AL$56,627
Lansing, MI$56,588
Lebanon, PA$56,581
Pueblo, CO$56,575
Appleton, WI$56,557
Buffalo, NY$56,534
Dayton, OH$56,516
Racine, WI$56,505
Charlotte, NC$56,499
Saint Louis, MO$56,481
York, PA$56,446
Elkhart, IN$56,446
Gastonia, NC$56,435
Billings, MT$56,421
Beaumont, TX$56,405
Lorain, OH$56,394
Benton Harbor, MI$56,382
Toledo, OH$56,370
Binghamton, NY$56,341
Rock Hill, SC$56,335
Rockford, IL$56,306
Springfield, IL$56,282
Elyria, OH$56,277
Fargo, ND$56,277
Flagstaff, AZ$56,236
Fort Lauderdale, FL$56,201
Duluth, MN$56,166
Miami, FL$56,166
Cheyenne, WY$56,125
Grand Forks, ND$56,125
Bangor, ME$55,996
Cedar Rapids, IA$55,932
Durham, NC$55,907
Louisville, KY$55,903
Grand Rapids, MI$55,891
Hialeah, FL$55,885
Casper, WY$55,803
Scranton, PA$55,733
New Orleans, LA$55,715
Virginia Beach, VA$55,710
Akron, OH$55,680
Peoria, IL$55,604
Sarasota, FL$55,593
Nashville, TN$55,552
Omaha, NE$55,552
Green Bay, WI$55,552
Baton Rouge, LA$55,523
Charleston, SC$55,511
Jamestown, NY$55,482
Davenport, IA$55,482
Tucson, AZ$55,452
Saint Petersburg, FL$55,417
Tampa, FL$55,406
Evansville, IN$55,371
Port Arthur, TX$55,371
Bradenton, FL$55,347
Santa Fe, NM$55,242
Orlando, FL$55,137
Clearwater, FL$55,119
Canton, OH$54,996
La Crosse, WI$54,996
Albuquerque, NM$54,961
Newport News, VA$54,956
High Point, NC$54,938
Ogden, UT$54,915
Corpus Christi, TX$54,868
Norfolk, VA$54,833
Laramie, WY$54,833
Rock Island, IL$54,798
Saginaw, MI$54,786
Jacksonville, FL$54,780
Salisbury, NC$54,768
Boise, ID$54,757
Moline, IL$54,728
Fort Myers, FL$54,710
Memphis, TN$54,698
Tulsa, OK$54,669
Waterloo, IA$54,634
Spartanburg, SC$54,576
Lincoln, NE$54,546
Fort Wayne, IN$54,535
Provo, UT$54,529
Cedar Falls, IA$54,459
San Antonio, TX$54,435
Greensboro, NC$54,412
South Bend, IN$54,406
Savannah, GA$54,342
Muskegon, MI$54,318
Birmingham, AL$54,312
Winston Salem, NC$54,284
Lake Charles, LA$54,143
Anderson, IN$54,131
Lexington, KY$54,114
Augusta, GA$54,096
Greenville, SC$54,096
Lima, OH$54,049
Wichita, KS$54,044
Tuscaloosa, AL$54,044
Columbia, SC$53,991
Springfield, OH$53,979
Asheville, NC$53,886
Bloomington, IN$53,845
Knoxville, TN$53,634
Shreveport, LA$53,629
Wilmington, NC$53,553
Roanoke, VA$53,553
Topeka, KS$53,447
Frankfort, KY$53,441
Oklahoma City, OK$53,401
Chillicothe, OH$53,377
Longview, TX$53,371
Melbourne, FL$53,365
Sioux Falls, SD$53,272
Mobile, AL$53,266
Terre Haute, IN$53,243
Altoona, PA$53,208
Amarillo, TX$53,167
Killeen, TX$53,149
Fayetteville, AR$53,102
Chattanooga, TN$53,085
Sioux City, IA$53,032
Idaho Falls, ID$53,021
Lynchburg, VA$52,974
Gainesville, FL$52,898
Portsmouth, OH$52,869
Little Rock, AR$52,857
Lafayette, LA$52,834
Youngstown, OH$52,834
Daytona Beach, FL$52,798
Clarksville, TN$52,793
Pensacola, FL$52,787
Temple, TX$52,783
Hopkinsville, KY$52,611
Erie, PA$52,600
Florence, SC$52,576
Charleston, WV$52,483
Great Falls, MT$52,454
Macon, GA$52,372
Tallahassee, FL$52,366
Fayetteville, NC$52,354
Waco, TX$52,342
Helena, MT$52,302
Pine Bluff, AR$52,279
Vincennes, IN$52,208
Lubbock, TX$52,185
Alamogordo, NM$52,150
Twin Falls, ID$52,097
Rapid City, SD$52,079
Jackson, MS$51,974
Huntington, WV$51,970
Greenville, MS$51,968
Parkersburg, WV$51,909
Montgomery, AL$51,898
Wichita Falls, TX$51,840
Springfield, MO$51,840
Biloxi, MS$51,811
Monroe, LA$51,752
Johnstown, PA$51,711
Sumter, SC$51,688
Columbus, GA$51,682
Pascagoula, MS$51,571
Abilene, TX$51,571
Kingsport, TN$51,419
Albany, GA$51,419
Gulfport, MS$51,401
Alexandria, LA$51,208
Fort Smith, AR$51,062
El Paso, TX$50,904
Las Cruces, NM$50,641
Harlingen, TX$50,493
Pocatello, ID$50,484
Florence, AL$50,408
Brownsville, TX$50,396
Mcallen, TX$50,273
Dothan, AL$50,191
Columbus, MS$49,844
Altus, OK$49,572
Lawton, OK$49,461
Pierre, SD$49,250
What Skills Can Increase a Molecular Biology Scientist's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 9.74% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Chemistry (Mentioned in 3.58% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
Laboratory Equipment (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Utilizing various tools and equipment to conduct scientific researches, teach practical science, or perform laboratory experiments.
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 Molecular Biology Scientist's salary.
Team Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Molecular Biology Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Molecular Biology Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Molecular Biology Scientist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Molecular Biology Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Molecular Biology Scientist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$75,994
$37.0
30%
Biotechnology
$70,149
$34.0
20%
MFG Durable
$67,226
$32.0
15%
Energy & Utilities
$64,303
$31.0
10%
Chemicals
$61,380
$30.0
5%
How Education impacts a Molecular Biology Scientist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Molecular Biology Scientists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Molecular Biology Scientist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$48,838
and $52,281).
Molecular Biology Scientist Salaries by Degree Level
Understanding how a Molecular 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$52,202
Average$58,457/year
$63,770
$4,350
Average$4,871/month
$5,314
$1,004
Average$1,124/week
$1,226
$25
Average$28/hour
$31
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$63,770
$5,314
$1,226
$31
Average
$58,457
$4,871
$1,124
$28
25th Percentile
$52,202
$4,350
$1,004
$25
Salaries of Jobs related to Molecular Biology Scientist
Head of Molecular Biology$225,800
VP of Molecular Biology$225,768
Molecular Biology Director$207,374
Molecular Biology Scientist V$145,930
Molecular Biology Scientist IV$116,110
Molecular Biology Scientist III$95,660
Molecular Biology Scientist II$78,780
Molecular Biology Technologist$69,755
Molecular Biology Scientist I$63,420
Molecular Biologist I$63,419
Molecular Biology Technician$52,539
Salary Trends for Molecular Biology Scientist
Salaries for a Molecular Biology Scientist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $54,114 in 2023
to around $53,883 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Molecular Biology Scientist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Molecular Biology Scientist Over Time
$???
$54,114
$54,086
$53,883
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$54,114
2024
$54,086
2025
$53,883
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Molecular Biology Scientist
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Molecular Biology Scientist
Here are companies hiring for Molecular Biology Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Molecular Biology Scientist
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Molecular Biology Scientist?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Molecular Biology Scientist 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.
