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The average salary for biotechnologists is reported at $54,160 per year, or around $26 per hour. This figure reflects the growing demand for professionals in the biotechnology sector, which encompasses various industries such as pharmaceuticals, agricultural technology, and environmental science. Salaries can be influenced by factors including geographical location, level of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Entry-level biotechnologists typically earn less, with salaries starting around $45,000. As professionals gain experience, their earning potential increases significantly. Mid-career biotechnologists can expect salaries in the range of $60,000 to $75,000, while senior roles, especially those in managerial positions or specialized research areas, can exceed $100,000 annually.
Location plays a critical role in salary variances. States such as California, Massachusetts, and Maryland often offer higher salaries due to their concentration of biotechnology firms and research institutions. Understanding these regional differences can assist job seekers in targeting their applications effectively.
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The average biotechnologist salary in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average biotechnologist salary states are Idaho, Alabama, and Kentucky.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $74,994 | $36.05 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $65,794 | $31.63 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $72,740 | $34.97 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $65,442 | $31.46 |
| 5 | New York | $71,421 | $34.34 |
| 6 | Maryland | $68,316 | $32.84 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $73,573 | $35.37 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $59,246 | $28.48 |
| 9 | Ohio | $60,780 | $29.22 |
| 10 | California | $62,068 | $29.84 |
| 11 | Texas | $57,261 | $27.53 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $60,419 | $29.05 |
| 13 | Illinois | $56,162 | $27.00 |
| 14 | Michigan | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| 15 | Virginia | $56,342 | $27.09 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $54,320 | $26.12 |
| 17 | Delaware | $55,994 | $26.92 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $54,784 | $26.34 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $54,538 | $26.22 |
| 20 | Missouri | $51,219 | $24.62 |
| 21 | Vermont | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| 22 | Maine | $54,984 | $26.43 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $51,820 | $24.91 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $50,556 | $24.31 |
| 25 | Iowa | $51,821 | $24.91 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $50,280 | $24.17 |
| 27 | Alaska | $48,154 | $23.15 |
| 28 | Florida | $51,092 | $24.56 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $48,956 | $23.54 |
| 30 | Oregon | $49,139 | $23.62 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $48,042 | $23.10 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| 33 | Utah | $46,936 | $22.57 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $48,629 | $23.38 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $49,126 | $23.62 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $48,901 | $23.51 |
| 37 | Arizona | $48,554 | $23.34 |
| 38 | Colorado | $43,187 | $20.76 |
| 39 | Kansas | $44,316 | $21.31 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $47,798 | $22.98 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $42,473 | $20.42 |
| 42 | Washington | $42,123 | $20.25 |
| 43 | Georgia | $46,529 | $22.37 |
| 44 | Nevada | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| 45 | Indiana | $40,833 | $19.63 |
| 46 | Idaho | $39,825 | $19.15 |
| 47 | Montana | $36,477 | $17.54 |
| 48 | Alabama | $39,506 | $18.99 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $38,152 | $18.34 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $38,999 | $18.75 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $37,559 | $18.06 |
The highest-paying cities for biotechnologists are Silver Spring, MD, Worcester, MA, and Decatur, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Spring, MD | $67,995 | $32.69 |
| 2 | Worcester, MA | $65,597 | $31.54 |
| 3 | Decatur, IL | $55,336 | $26.60 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $42,004 | $20.19 |
A biotechnologist's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $54,160 | $4,513 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
The highest paying types of biotechnologists are research and development technician, research and development assistant, and research associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Research And Development Technician | $83,552 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 111,268 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
| Microbiological Laboratory Technician | $38,713 | $3,226 | $18.61 | 44,567 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Biological Science Technician | $35,390 | $2,949 | $17.01 | 13,801 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for biotechnologists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Professor Susan Bergeson
Top companies hiring biotechnologists now:
Biotechnologist salaries at AbbVie and Henry M. Jackson Foundation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average biotechnologist salary at companies like Mérieux NutriSciences and ADM are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AbbVie | $100,081 | $48.12 |
| 2 | Henry M. Jackson Foundation | $69,478 | $33.40 |
| 3 | Mérieux NutriSciences | $58,187 | $27.97 |
| 4 | ADM | $50,204 | $24.14 |
| 5 | Cargill | $44,349 | $21.32 |
The average biotechnologist salary has risen by $8,018 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average biotechnologist earned $46,142 annually, but today, they earn $54,160 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for biotechnologists over the last decade.
Compare biotechnologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare biotechnologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,200 | $26.04 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $53,600 | $25.77 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $52,000 | $25.00 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $51,200 | $24.61 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $49,700 | $23.89 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ask Consulting | Biotechnologist Associate (Bulk) | Portsmouth, NH | 04/26/2025 | $56,349 |
| Spectraforce | Biotechnologist | Portsmouth, NH | 03/27/2025 | $48,523 |
| Ask Consulting | Biotechnologist Associate (258918) | Portsmouth, NH | 01/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Lenmar Consulting | Biotechnologist Associate (MAX W2) | Portsmouth, NH | 01/26/2025 | $56,349 |
| Cargill, Incorporated | Senior Professional Biotechnologist | Plymouth, MN | 01/24/2025 | $116,688 |
| Planet Pharma | Biotechnologist Associate (DAY Shift) | Portsmouth, NH | 12/12/2024 | $48,523 |
| Lenmar Consulting | Biotechnologist Associate (Shifts-Day/Night) | Portsmouth, NH | 12/10/2024 | $56,349 |
| The Hire Method, LLC | Senior Manufacturing Biotechnologist | Portsmouth, NH | 12/05/2024 | $75,000 |
| Swipejobs | Biotechnologist Associate | Portsmouth, NH | 07/22/2024 | $48,523 |
| Swipejobs | Biotechnologist Associate | Portsmouth, NH | 07/22/2024 | $48,523 |
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