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Molecular Geneticist Salary in the United States

How much does a Molecular Geneticist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Molecular Geneticist in the United States is $85,584 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,412
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $79,487 to $93,345
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,936
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Molecular Geneticist Salaries

A Molecular Geneticist'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 Geneticist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Molecular Geneticist'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): $83,020
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $84,107
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,953
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $88,779
  • Expert (over 8 years): $89,008
Levels Salary
Entry Level Molecular Geneticist$83,020
Intermediate Level Molecular Geneticist$84,107
Senior Level Molecular Geneticist$86,953
Specialist Level Molecular Geneticist$88,779
Expert Level Molecular Geneticist$89,008
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How Do Molecular Geneticist 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 Geneticists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $94,758.
  • California: $94,399.
  • Massachusetts: $93,141.

Top Paying Cities for Molecular Geneticists

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: $107,946
  • San Francisco: $106,765
  • Oakland: $104,515

What Skills Can Increase a Molecular Geneticist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 15.79% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 3.01% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
  • Safety Procedures (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): Establishing and implementing rules and procedures to prevent potential hazards and risks to ensure a safe and productive working environment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 15.79%
Preventative Maintenance 3.01%
Safety Procedures 2.26%
See More Skills

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 Molecular Geneticist's salary.

  • Neurology: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Diagnostic Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Bioinformatics: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Neurology $112,970
32%
Diagnostic Testing $102,700
20%
Bioinformatics $100,133
17%
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Molecular Geneticist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Molecular Geneticist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Biotechnology, offers compensation 25% above the average. Conversely, Molecular Geneticist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Molecular Geneticist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Molecular Geneticist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$106,979$51.025%

How Education impacts a Molecular Geneticist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Molecular Geneticists 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 Molecular Geneticist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $76,011 and $80,131).

Molecular Geneticist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Molecular Geneticist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 1.1%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 76.7%
Masters 16.7%
Doctorate 3.3%
View as Graph

Molecular Geneticist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Molecular Geneticist'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 September 01, 2026
$79,487
Average $85,584/year
$93,345
$6,624
Average $7,132/month
$7,779
$1,529
Average $1,646/week
$1,795
$38
Average $41/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $93,345 $7,779 $1,795 $45
Average $85,584 $7,132 $1,646 $41
25th Percentile $79,487 $6,624 $1,529 $38

Most common benefits for Molecular Geneticist

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

Common company salaries for Molecular Geneticist

Here are companies hiring for Molecular Geneticist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Molecular Geneticist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Molecular Geneticist?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Molecular Geneticist roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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