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Senior biologist salary
Average senior biologist salary
$66,143
Understanding the Senior Biologist Salary
The average salary for a Senior Biologist in the United States is approximately $66,143 per year, translating to around $32 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment.
Salary by State
States like California, Massachusetts, and Washington tend to offer higher salaries for Senior Biologists, often exceeding the national average. For instance, in California, the average salary can reach up to $78,000 annually. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential.
Job Opportunities
In addition to salary, job seekers should consider the industries that pay the highest for Senior Biologists. Fields such as pharmaceuticals, environmental consulting, and biotechnology are known to offer competitive salaries and benefits. By targeting these sectors, professionals can enhance their career prospects significantly.
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Where can a Senior Biologist earn more?
Senior biologist salary estimates from across the web
Average senior biologist salary by state
The average senior biologist salary in Alaska, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior biologist salary states are Louisiana, Tennessee, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior biologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $87,679 | $42.15 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $80,474 | $38.69 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $79,167 | $38.06 |
| 4 | Nevada | $74,541 | $35.84 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $76,126 | $36.60 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $71,995 | $34.61 |
| 7 | Montana | $69,734 | $33.53 |
| 8 | Utah | $78,105 | $37.55 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $75,604 | $36.35 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $78,104 | $37.55 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $78,123 | $37.56 |
| 12 | Oregon | $73,716 | $35.44 |
| 13 | Delaware | $73,440 | $35.31 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $75,619 | $36.36 |
| 15 | Vermont | $71,317 | $34.29 |
| 16 | Washington | $72,577 | $34.89 |
| 17 | Maine | $67,638 | $32.52 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $67,675 | $32.54 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $62,906 | $30.24 |
| 20 | New York | $74,307 | $35.72 |
| 21 | California | $70,303 | $33.80 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $63,208 | $30.39 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $75,216 | $36.16 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $69,599 | $33.46 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $62,565 | $30.08 |
| 26 | Indiana | $65,470 | $31.48 |
| 27 | Virginia | $65,374 | $31.43 |
| 28 | Maryland | $63,393 | $30.48 |
| 29 | Arizona | $64,693 | $31.10 |
| 30 | Georgia | $65,309 | $31.40 |
| 31 | Michigan | $62,562 | $30.08 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $59,571 | $28.64 |
| 33 | Illinois | $62,388 | $29.99 |
| 34 | Idaho | $58,685 | $28.21 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $63,337 | $30.45 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $58,924 | $28.33 |
| 37 | Alabama | $56,563 | $27.19 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $54,645 | $26.27 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $55,722 | $26.79 |
| 40 | Iowa | $59,915 | $28.81 |
| 41 | Kansas | $58,674 | $28.21 |
| 42 | Texas | $57,124 | $27.46 |
| 43 | Colorado | $60,193 | $28.94 |
| 44 | Ohio | $56,497 | $27.16 |
| 45 | Missouri | $52,973 | $25.47 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $56,704 | $27.26 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $49,091 | $23.60 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $53,185 | $25.57 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $53,967 | $25.95 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $50,298 | $24.18 |
| 51 | Florida | $51,728 | $24.87 |
Highest paying cities for senior biologists
The highest-paying cities for senior biologists are Carson City, NV, Boston, MA, and Harrisburg, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson City, NV | $82,708 | $39.76 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $80,625 | $38.76 |
| 3 | Harrisburg, PA | $78,857 | $37.91 |
| 4 | Chico, CA | $78,303 | $37.65 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $78,119 | $37.56 |
| 6 | Concord, NH | $75,512 | $36.30 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $74,824 | $35.97 |
| 8 | Dover, DE | $73,247 | $35.21 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $73,233 | $35.21 |
| 10 | Bismarck, ND | $71,099 | $34.18 |
| 11 | McLean, VA | $67,814 | $32.60 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $65,730 | $31.60 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $65,036 | $31.27 |
| 14 | Annapolis, MD | $63,453 | $30.51 |
| 15 | Cheyenne, WY | $62,089 | $29.85 |
| 16 | Charleston, WV | $61,348 | $29.49 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $60,089 | $28.89 |
| 18 | Des Moines, IA | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| 19 | Frankfort, KY | $59,308 | $28.51 |
| 20 | Cary, NC | $57,510 | $27.65 |
Senior biologist salary details
A senior biologist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $96,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior biologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| Average | $66,143 | $5,512 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying senior biologist jobs
The highest paying types of senior biologists are molecular biologist, aquatic scientist, and mycologist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computational Biologist | $61,449 | $5,121 | $29.54 | 12,839 |
| Molecular Biologist | $73,763 | $6,147 | $35.46 | 22,019 |
| Research Biologist | $69,719 | $5,810 | $33.52 | 52,799 |
| Biologist | $65,158 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 5,741 |
| Cell Biologist | $68,698 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 24,079 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior biologists, 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 senior biologists now:
Which companies pay senior biologists the most?
Senior biologist salaries at Eli Lilly and Company and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior biologist salary at companies like HDR and ATCC are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eli Lilly and Company | $95,683 | $46.00 |
| 2 | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $85,437 | $41.08 |
| 3 | HDR | $76,924 | $36.98 |
| 4 | ATCC | $73,444 | $35.31 |
| 5 | AECOM | $72,425 | $34.82 |
| 6 | Jacobs Enterprises | $71,139 | $34.20 |
| 7 | HELIX Environmental Planning | $71,008 | $34.14 |
| 8 | Anchor QEA | $70,882 | $34.08 |
| 9 | Lilly & Company | $70,706 | $33.99 |
| 10 | EAG Services | $69,644 | $33.48 |
| 11 | Stantec | $69,316 | $33.33 |
| 12 | Tetra Tech | $69,208 | $33.27 |
| 13 | Witt O'Brien's | $69,143 | $33.24 |
| 14 | TRC Companies | $68,949 | $33.15 |
| 15 | Hunter | $68,895 | $33.12 |
| 16 | Belcan | $63,389 | $30.48 |
| 17 | ICF | $63,296 | $30.43 |
| 18 | Florida International University | $62,951 | $30.26 |
| 19 | MITRE | $60,785 | $29.22 |
| 20 | Aerotek | $58,584 | $28.17 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Biologist salary by industry
The average senior biologist salary varies across industries:
- The average senior biologist salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $95,652, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior biologist salary in the finance industry is $73,453.
- Senior biologists in the health care industry earn an average salary of $67,484, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior biologists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $95,652 | $45.99 |
| 2 | Agriculture | $73,453 | $35.31 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $71,668 | $34.46 |
| 4 | Professional | $69,202 | $33.27 |
| 5 | Health Care | $67,484 | $32.44 |
High paying senior biologist jobs
Senior biologist salary trends
The average senior biologist salary has risen by $11,338 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior biologist earned $54,805 annually, but today, they earn $66,143 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for senior biologists over the last decade.
Compare senior biologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior biologist salary over time
Compare senior biologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior biologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $66,100 | $31.80 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $63,300 | $30.41 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $61,600 | $29.63 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $59,600 | $28.64 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $57,100 | $27.47 | -0.5% |
Recently added senior biologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon Engineering | Senior Biologist | Tavernier, FL | 06/30/2025 | $71,711 |
| LVI Associates | Senior Biologist (BAY Area/Irvine) | Irvine, CA | 06/24/2025 | $80,000 |
| Ascent Environmental | Senior Biologist | San Diego, CA | 06/20/2025 | $95,680 |
| Stantec Inc. | Senior Environmental Biologist | Los Angeles, CA | 06/18/2025 | $91,100 |
| Dudek | Senior Biologist | Santa Cruz, CA | 06/12/2025 | $90,000 |
| Harris & Associates | Senior Biologist | Salinas, CA | 06/10/2025 | $85,000 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | SNR Biologist | Boston, MA | 06/10/2025 | $152,351 |
| DNV | Senior Permitting Biologist (Renewable Energy) | Medford, MA | 06/10/2025 | $100,000 |
| Tetra Tech, Inc. | Senior-Level Biologist-Midwest Region | Lakewood, CO | 06/03/2025 | $90,000 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | SR. Biologist-Immunology Discovery | San Diego, CA | 05/28/2025 | $69,000 |
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