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Occupation · SOC 19-1029

Biological Scientists, All Other

There are 55,850 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $98,920 a year. The most jobs are in Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV.

ScienceTypical education: Bachelor's degree
55,850
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$98,920
Median pay a year
Middle half: $76,800–$127,670
4,300
Annual openings
10-year change: +4.7%
4,637
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+8.3% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 152 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $114,920 · LCA filings 2285,720$114,920228
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $138,160 · LCA filings 4004,280$138,160400
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $110,410 · LCA filings 9232,630$110,410923
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $96,380 · LCA filings 1262,320$96,380126
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $111,380 · LCA filings 3751,970$111,380375
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAMedian pay $108,350 · LCA filings 1581,960$108,350158
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $108,580 · LCA filings 881,880$108,58088
Durham–Chapel Hill, NCMedian pay $98,700 · LCA filings 371,390$98,70037
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $106,670 · LCA filings 1111,140$106,670111
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $97,160 · LCA filings 68910$97,16068

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 4,280 · LCA filings 400$138,1604,280400
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 610 · LCA filings 167$133,790610167
Dayton–Kettering–Beavercreek, OHEmployment 70 · LCA filings 1$126,960701
Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CAEmployment 90 · LCA filings 4$124,840904
Portland–South Portland, MEEmployment 60 · LCA filings 1$119,430601

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 208 · Employment 2,6309232082,630
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 134 · Employment 4,2804001344,280
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 90 · Employment 1,970375901,970
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployers with LCA filings 55 · Employment 5,720228555,720
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 41 · Employment 61016741610

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $99,590 · Level III $123,490 · Level IV $147,410$75,670$99,590$123,490$147,410
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $120,349 · Level III $147,742 · Level IV $175,136$92,955$120,349$147,742$175,136
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $100,755 · Level III $123,885 · Level IV $147,014$77,626$100,755$123,885$147,014
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $86,861 · Level III $104,915 · Level IV $122,970$68,806$86,861$104,915$122,970
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $102,690 · Level III $123,323 · Level IV $143,936$82,077$102,690$123,323$143,936
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CALevel II $95,930 · Level III $116,085 · Level IV $136,219$75,795$95,930$116,085$136,219
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $99,715 · Level III $119,746 · Level IV $139,797$79,664$99,715$119,746$139,797
Durham–Chapel Hill, NCLevel II $85,862 · Level III $102,523 · Level IV $119,184$69,202$85,862$102,523$119,184
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $92,352 · Level III $111,322 · Level IV $130,291$73,382$92,352$111,322$130,291
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $86,278 · Level III $97,656 · Level IV $109,013$74,922$86,278$97,656$109,013
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $114,026 · Level III $142,022 · Level IV $170,019$86,029$114,026$142,022$170,019

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Biology, GeneralCIP 26.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months4,172STEM OPT · up to 36 months
BiotechnologyCIP 26.12STEM OPT · up to 36 months972STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyCIP 26.11STEM OPT · up to 36 months1,624STEM OPT · up to 36 months
GeneticsCIP 26.08STEM OPT · up to 36 months185STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesCIP 26.04STEM OPT · up to 36 months619STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Biological Scientists, All Other in every metro area

All 152 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Science

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology