H-1B Demand for Molecular and Cellular Biologists Surges, Led by California and Massachusetts
Explore H-1B visa filings for Molecular and Cellular Biologists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $88,308 |
| Salary Range | $58,115 - $167,877 |
| Top Sponsor | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute |
| Primary Location | California |
Molecular and Cellular Biologists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 460 filings and an average salary of $84,417. Hiring for Molecular and Cellular Biologists has seen a significant surge, particularly in FY2025, indicating strong demand. The average salary offered is above the median, suggesting competitive compensation for this specialized role. California and Massachusetts are the leading states for H-1B employment in this field, concentrating opportunities. While the number of positions is high, the salary range shows considerable variation, from entry-level to senior roles.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $88,308 |
| Median Salary | $79,581 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,470 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,067 |
| Minimum Salary | $58,115 |
| Maximum Salary | $167,877 |
| 10th Percentile | $62,232 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,470 |
| Median (50th) | $79,581 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,067 |
| 90th Percentile | $136,750 |
| Average | $88,308 |
| Sample Size | 100 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 85 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 12 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 2 |
| H-1B1 SINGAPORE | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | 5 | $75k |
| H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. | 4 | $79k |
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 3 | $90k |
| California Institute of Technology | 3 | $74k |
| The Jackson Laboratory | 3 | $75k |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 3 | $69k |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | 3 | $75k |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | 3 | $69k |
| University of Michigan | 3 | $70k |
| Eli Lilly and Company | 3 | $126k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| California | 26 |
| Massachusetts | 19 |
| Florida | 10 |
| Maryland | 6 |
| Texas | 5 |
| Arizona | 4 |
| North Carolina | 3 |
| New York | 3 |
| New Jersey | 3 |
| Georgia | 3 |
Focus your H-1B job search on key biotech hubs like California and Massachusetts, and tailor your application to highlight specialized molecular and cellular biology skills that command competitive salaries.
The average H-1B salary for Molecular and Cellular Biologists is $84,417, with a median of $76,000. The 25th-75th percentile range is $66,492 to $94,994.
Top H-1B sponsors for Molecular and Cellular Biologists include Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, The Leland Stanford, Jr University, Emory University, University of Michigan. A total of 190 employers have filed for this role.
There are 460 H-1B filings on record for Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions. 98.9% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions are California (114), Massachusetts (80), Texas (41), Maryland (27), Florida (26).
Yes, Molecular and Cellular Biologists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 460 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Molecular and Cellular Biologists salaries range from $40,560 to $267,000. The median salary is $76,000.
The approval rate for Molecular and Cellular Biologists H-1B petitions is 98.9%. The number of H-1B petitions for Molecular and Cellular Biologists has more than doubled from FY2022 to FY2025 projections.
The average salary ($84,417) is notably higher than the median salary ($76,000), implying a premium for specialized skills.
Focus your H-1B job search on key biotech hubs like California and Massachusetts, and tailor your application to highlight specialized molecular and cellular biology skills that command competitive salaries.
California and Massachusetts account for a substantial portion of the H-1B hires, highlighting regional hubs for this profession.
The Molecular and Cellular Biologists occupation (SOC code 19-102902) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions show an average offered salary of $88,308, with a range from $58,115 at the entry level to $167,877 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in California (26 filings) and Massachusetts (19 filings).
Career outlook for Molecular and Cellular Biologists professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Molecular and Cellular Biologists role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Molecular and Cellular Biologists roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions, the average offered salary of $88,308 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 18%, with 74% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions is 100%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Molecular and Cellular Biologists H-1B filings is approximately 31 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Molecular and Cellular Biologists positions.