Microbiologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,670 | $26.28 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Mean (average) | $97,600 | $46.92 |
| 90th percentile | $150,000 | $72.12 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Microbiologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 44 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $65,690 | $38,350 | $96,660 | 110 | 0.44 |
| Alaska | $76,320 | $62,060 | $93,920 | 30 | 0.85 |
| Arizona | $69,880 | $52,530 | $93,310 | 80 | 0.2 |
| Arkansas | $59,750 | $42,580 | $145,270 | 140 | 0.88 |
| California | $108,530 | $62,440 | $183,420 | 2,600 | 1.17 |
| Colorado | $81,640 | $49,690 | $152,730 | 370 | 1.07 |
| Connecticut | $86,360 | $60,800 | $134,040 | 180 | 0.88 |
| Delaware | $82,770 | $59,040 | $128,480 | 190 | 3.17 |
| Florida | $80,930 | $46,090 | $135,710 | 270 | 0.22 |
| Georgia | $103,070 | $66,510 | $158,020 | 880 | 1.48 |
| Hawaii | $70,970 | $56,050 | $89,810 | 60 | 0.81 |
| Idaho | $65,940 | $48,660 | $100,510 | 70 | 0.66 |
| Illinois | $92,050 | $59,780 | $127,300 | 1,470 | 1.98 |
| Indiana | $77,900 | $55,460 | $120,020 | 150 | 0.38 |
| Iowa | $79,830 | $66,780 | $138,090 | 180 | 0.95 |
| Kansas | $70,500 | $50,570 | $118,560 | 120 | 0.7 |
| Kentucky | $66,500 | $55,100 | $123,070 | 80 | 0.32 |
| Maine | Data unavailable | 30 | 0.41 | ||
| Maryland | $108,470 | $59,260 | $185,520 | 1,590 | 4.72 |
| Massachusetts | $122,350 | $75,990 | $162,760 | 1,960 | 4.42 |
| Michigan | $78,680 | $52,470 | $103,150 | 370 | 0.68 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | $58,050 | $138,280 | 290 | 0.8 |
| Mississippi | $61,690 | $44,010 | $115,210 | ||
| Missouri | $78,590 | $54,540 | $163,130 | 140 | 0.38 |
| Montana | $87,750 | $53,940 | $171,600 | 80 | 1.35 |
| Nebraska | $72,470 | $57,160 | $166,000 | 90 | 0.7 |
| Nevada | $64,490 | $51,990 | $125,860 | 110 | 0.58 |
| New Hampshire | $79,430 | $57,540 | $111,120 | 170 | 2.06 |
| New Jersey | $96,020 | $57,840 | $131,700 | 790 | 1.51 |
| New York | $81,090 | $65,020 | $134,960 | 1,050 | 0.89 |
| North Carolina | $85,860 | $57,710 | $138,600 | 1,050 | 1.75 |
| Ohio | $72,500 | $46,420 | $129,590 | 530 | 0.78 |
| Oregon | $89,220 | $65,600 | $141,130 | 170 | 0.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,650 | $50,300 | $132,040 | 670 | 0.91 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,680 | $40,160 | $95,180 | 190 | 1.68 |
| South Carolina | $64,740 | $51,820 | $98,460 | 100 | 0.34 |
| South Dakota | $70,530 | $40,820 | $107,200 | 80 | 1.52 |
| Tennessee | $77,630 | $52,880 | $143,220 | 210 | 0.52 |
| Texas | $66,450 | $45,850 | $103,820 | 920 | 0.53 |
| Utah | $72,600 | $46,960 | $123,120 | 120 | 0.55 |
| Virginia | $77,820 | $55,120 | $161,470 | 280 | 0.56 |
| Washington | $77,690 | $53,490 | $129,480 | 340 | 0.79 |
| West Virginia | $68,550 | $42,740 | $82,680 | 40 | 0.43 |
| Wisconsin | $67,100 | $46,030 | $109,040 | 420 | 1.18 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for microbiologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for microbiologists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Soil Microbiology CIP 01.1203
- Structural Biology CIP 26.0207
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other CIP 26.0499
- Microbiology, General CIP 26.0502
- Virology CIP 26.0504
- Parasitology CIP 26.0505
- Immunology CIP 26.0507
- Microbiology and Immunology CIP 26.0508
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other CIP 26.0599
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
- Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Use a variety of specialized equipment, such as electron microscopes, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.
- Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease, including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations, based upon research outcomes.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Assistant Software for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Interpretation ASASI
- BD Biosciences CellQuest
- BD Biosciences CloneCyt
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- Bruker Optics OPUS
- BtB Software Mycobacteriology Lab
- Codon Usage Database
- ComBase
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Bacteriologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist), Clinical Microbiologist, Medical Technologist, Microbiological Analyst, Microbiologist, Public Health Microbiologist, Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist), Research Microbiologist, Research Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do microbiologists make?
The national median annual wage for microbiologists was $87,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $54,670 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $150,000. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do microbiologists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is microbiologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of microbiologists to change +6.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay microbiologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($122,350), California ($108,530), Maryland ($108,470). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.