Microbiologists Salary
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 19K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$87,990
Median hourly
$42
Average annual
$97,600
Typical range
$54,670–$150,000
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Microbiologists is $87,990 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $42 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms..
Most earn between $54,670 and $150,000 a year. There are roughly 19K people employed as microbiologists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Microbiologists.
- Hourly
- $42.30
- Daily
- $338
- Weekly
- $1,692
- Bi-weekly
- $3,384
- Monthly
- $7,333
- Annual
- $87,990
$87,990 a year is around the 50th percentile for Microbiologistss. The median is $87,990.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Massachusetts$122,350
- 2California$108,530
- 3Maryland$108,470
- 4Georgia$103,070
- 5New Jersey$96,020
- 6Illinois$92,050
- 7Oregon$89,220
- 8Montana$87,750
- 9Connecticut$86,360
- 10North Carolina$85,860
- 11Pennsylvania$84,650
- 12Minnesota$83,400
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$130,070
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,910
- 3Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$123,590
- 4Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$122,350
- 5Vallejo, CA$115,980
- 6Worcester, MA$115,660
- 7Memphis, TN-MS-AR$114,840
- 8Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$114,800
- 9Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$112,470
- 10Athens-Clarke County, GA$112,440
- 11Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$109,320
- 12San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$108,900
Related job titles
Employers advertise Microbiologists roles under these titles.
- Bacteriologist
- Clinical Microbiologist
- Electron Microscopist
- Medical Microbiologist
- Microbiological Analyst
- Microbiologist
- Microbiology Analyst
- Microbiology Scientist
- Microbiology Specialist
- Microscopist
- Pharmaceutical Microbiologist
- Public Health Microbiologist
- Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist)
- Research Microbiologist
- Virologist
Related occupations
What a Microbiologists does
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Microbiologists make?
- The median annual wage for Microbiologists is $87,990 ($42 per hour). Pay ranges from about $54,670 at the 10th percentile to $150,000 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Microbiologists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $97,600, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Microbiologistss the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $122,350.
- Is Microbiologists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 19K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Microbiologists do?
- 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..