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The average salary for a Director of Cell Biology is approximately $79,225 per year, translating to about $38 per hour. This role is crucial in directing research teams and projects aimed at understanding cell functions and processes. Salaries can vary widely based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry sectors.
Some states offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts often provide competitive wages for cell biologists. Additionally, cities like San Francisco and Boston are known for their higher pay scales, reflecting the concentration of biotech firms and research institutions.
With experience, directors can expect salary increases, especially if they take on additional responsibilities or move to more competitive markets. Networking within the industry and pursuing further education can also lead to improved job prospects and salaries.
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The average director of cell biology salary in Tennessee, Alaska, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average director of cell biology salary states are Mississippi, North Dakota, and Utah.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $93,391 | $44.90 |
| 2 | Tennessee | $102,720 | $49.38 |
| 3 | Maine | $92,308 | $44.38 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $88,569 | $42.58 |
| 5 | Alaska | $100,635 | $48.38 |
| 6 | California | $92,618 | $44.53 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $92,160 | $44.31 |
| 8 | Montana | $85,810 | $41.25 |
| 9 | Delaware | $82,683 | $39.75 |
| 10 | Indiana | $87,568 | $42.10 |
| 11 | Oregon | $78,391 | $37.69 |
| 12 | Nevada | $83,988 | $40.38 |
| 13 | Vermont | $76,753 | $36.90 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $73,787 | $35.47 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $79,279 | $38.11 |
| 16 | Arizona | $82,874 | $39.84 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $79,655 | $38.30 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $71,470 | $34.36 |
| 19 | Colorado | $73,604 | $35.39 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $75,989 | $36.53 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $69,856 | $33.58 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $66,039 | $31.75 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $86,572 | $41.62 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $73,388 | $35.28 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $65,887 | $31.68 |
| 26 | New York | $71,855 | $34.55 |
| 27 | Maryland | $73,180 | $35.18 |
| 28 | Washington | $68,556 | $32.96 |
| 29 | Virginia | $70,490 | $33.89 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $66,923 | $32.17 |
| 31 | Alabama | $62,445 | $30.02 |
| 32 | Missouri | $65,499 | $31.49 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $66,064 | $31.76 |
| 34 | Ohio | $65,909 | $31.69 |
| 35 | Illinois | $66,844 | $32.14 |
| 36 | Idaho | $66,757 | $32.09 |
| 37 | Michigan | $66,344 | $31.90 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $62,123 | $29.87 |
| 39 | Texas | $63,168 | $30.37 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $57,041 | $27.42 |
| 41 | Florida | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $54,524 | $26.21 |
| 43 | Georgia | $65,943 | $31.70 |
| 44 | Iowa | $47,278 | $22.73 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $59,418 | $28.57 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $62,109 | $29.86 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $60,577 | $29.12 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| 49 | Kansas | $58,653 | $28.20 |
| 50 | Utah | $54,621 | $26.26 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $53,899 | $25.91 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of cell biology are San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and Farmington, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $100,405 | $48.27 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $93,625 | $45.01 |
| 3 | Farmington, CT | $92,576 | $44.51 |
| 4 | Eugene, OR | $79,038 | $38.00 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $74,399 | $35.77 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $73,583 | $35.38 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $73,506 | $35.34 |
| 8 | Easton, PA | $72,405 | $34.81 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $71,801 | $34.52 |
| 10 | Charlottesville, VA | $70,176 | $33.74 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $69,315 | $33.32 |
| 12 | North Chicago, IL | $67,228 | $32.32 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $66,133 | $31.79 |
| 14 | Chesterfield, MO | $65,564 | $31.52 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $65,358 | $31.42 |
| 16 | Lincoln, NE | $62,179 | $29.89 |
A director of cell biology's salary ranges from $50,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $124,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48 |
| Average | $79,225 | $6,602 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
The highest paying types of directors of cell biology are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Researcher | $67,145 | $5,595 | $32.28 | 30,498 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
| Principal Scientist | $119,982 | $9,998 | $57.68 | 80,899 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Directors of cell biology, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Howard Whiteman
Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of the Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University
Top companies hiring directors of cell biology now:
Director of cell biology salaries at Western Digital and Genentech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of cell biology salary at companies like Amgen and AbbVie are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Digital | $114,215 | $54.91 |
| 2 | Genentech | $111,163 | $53.44 |
| 3 | Amgen | $102,818 | $49.43 |
| 4 | AbbVie | $102,022 | $49.05 |
| 5 | Regeneron | $100,696 | $48.41 |
| 6 | Bayer | $100,498 | $48.32 |
| 7 | Eli Lilly and Company | $100,219 | $48.18 |
| 8 | Vertex Pharmaceuticals | $98,315 | $47.27 |
| 9 | Merck | $97,475 | $46.86 |
| 10 | AstraZeneca | $95,305 | $45.82 |
| 11 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $93,385 | $44.90 |
| 12 | Sanofi US | $92,154 | $44.30 |
| 13 | Johnson & Johnson | $89,197 | $42.88 |
| 14 | Kelly Services | $85,117 | $40.92 |
| 15 | Intellia Therapeutics | $83,443 | $40.12 |
| 16 | Eurofins | $83,418 | $40.10 |
| 17 | Asimov | $82,843 | $39.83 |
| 18 | DermBiont | $82,843 | $39.83 |
| 19 | Celerion | $82,797 | $39.81 |
| 20 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $82,736 | $39.78 |
The average director of cell biology salary has risen by $13,315 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of cell biology earned $65,910 annually, but today, they earn $79,225 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for directors of cell biology over the last decade.
Compare director of cell biology salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of cell biology salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,200 | $38.09 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $76,900 | $36.96 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $73,400 | $35.30 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $71,100 | $34.17 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $69,700 | $33.52 | -2.1% |
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