Prevailing Wage for Biological Scientists, All Other
Prevailing wage for Biological Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-1029) is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected across U.S. metro areas. DOL assigns four experience-based levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located.
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Level 1 covers entry-level biological scientists with a bachelor's or master's degree and limited independent experience. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine, and the employee is still building familiarity with standard laboratory or field protocols in the occupation.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for biological scientists. It applies to qualified professionals who work independently on defined projects, apply standard research methods, and hold a relevant advanced degree or equivalent years of hands-on experience in the field.
Level 3 applies to experienced biological scientists who exercise judgment on complex problems, may guide junior staff, and contribute meaningfully to study design or research direction. Several years of post-degree experience in a specialized subfield is the typical profile at this level.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior biological scientists who set research direction, lead teams, and are recognized subject-matter authorities. Employers filing at this level typically hold principal investigator, senior scientist, or equivalent leadership titles with substantial independent publication or project records.
Prevailing Wage for Biological Scientists, All Other by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Biological Scientists, All Other and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for biotech employer title aliasing
Biotech and pharma employers sometimes post roles as 'Research Scientist' or 'Staff Scientist' but file LCAs under a neighboring SOC such as Biochemists and Biophysicists. Confirm the SOC code on the certified LCA matches 19-1029 before accepting an offer, or the prevailing wage floor used may not reflect this occupation.
Expect steep coastal premiums in this occupation
San Francisco and San Jose metros show prevailing wages roughly double those in mid-tier markets. If your employer is headquartered there but your worksite is remote or in a lower-wage metro, the LCA must list your actual worksite location, which determines the applicable floor.
Understand how grant-funded positions affect level filings
Academic medical centers and national labs often fund biological scientist roles through federal grants. Grant-constrained salaries sometimes push employers toward a Level 1 filing even when the candidate's experience warrants Level 2, so compare the offered salary against the correct level for your credentials.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors for this occupation
Migrate Mate lists biological scientist roles vetted for sponsorship history, showing which employers have actually filed for this occupation before. That historical pattern helps you prioritize organizations that regularly sponsor rather than those sponsoring for the first time.
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Find Jobs for this roleFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Biological Scientists, All Other?
DOL uses Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected from employers across U.S. metro areas. For each area, DOL calculates wage percentiles tied to four experience levels and publishes them through the OFLC Wage Search. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and supervision requirements before filing an H-1B or PERM petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines four levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified and largely independent; Level 3 is experienced with some supervisory responsibility; Level 4 is fully competent with leadership scope. Your level should match the actual duties in the job description, not your personal credentials. Review the employer's LCA, which lists the certified level, and compare it against your role's described responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same biological scientist role vary so much by city?
DOL derives wages from regional BLS employer surveys, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions. Dense biotech corridors such as the San Francisco Bay Area or Connecticut's pharma corridor show substantially higher floors than rural or mid-tier markets. The worksite address listed on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, not the employer's headquarters. A remote arrangement with a California employer using a Missouri worksite address, for example, would use Missouri's lower floor.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA or submit an H-1B petition with a salary below the applicable prevailing wage. If OFLC or USCIS detects a discrepancy, the application will be denied. For existing H-1B holders, underpayment can result in back-wage liability, debarment of the employer from future filings, and potential status issues for the employee. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a negotiating baseline.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific biological scientist location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, select SOC code 19-1029, and enter the metro area matching your worksite. The result shows all four level wages for that area. You can also cross-check published LCA disclosure data OFLC releases quarterly. Migrate Mate lists biological scientist roles with employer sponsorship history by location, helping you identify which organizations have actively filed in specific metros so you can target your search before negotiating salary.
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