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Microbiologists Salary
Microbiologists earn a median $87,990 a year in the U.S., with 18,940 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $87,990 a year
- Employment
- 18,940
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +6.2%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 1,500
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $87,990 · $42.30 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $97,600 · $46.92 an hour (estimate error ±0.9%)
- 10th percentile
- $54,670 · $26.28 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $67,100 · $32.26 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $122,350 · $58.82 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $150,000 · $72.12 an hour
- Employment
- 18,940 (estimate error ±4.3%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
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.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 20,100
- Projected for 2035
- 21,400
- Change
- +1,300 (+6.2%)
- Openings each year
- 1,500
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 2.0%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $122,350 | 1,960 |
| 2 | California | $108,530 | 2,600 |
| 3 | Maryland | $108,470 | 1,590 |
| 4 | Georgia | $103,070 | 880 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $96,020 | 790 |
| 6 | Illinois | $92,050 | 1,470 |
| 7 | Oregon | $89,220 | 170 |
| 8 | Montana | $87,750 | 80 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $86,360 | 180 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $85,860 | 1,050 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2,600 | $108,530 |
| Massachusetts | 1,960 | $122,350 |
| Maryland | 1,590 | $108,470 |
| Illinois | 1,470 | $92,050 |
| New York | 1,050 | $81,090 |
| North Carolina | 1,050 | $85,860 |
| Texas | 920 | $66,450 |
| Georgia | 880 | $103,070 |
| New Jersey | 790 | $96,020 |
| Pennsylvania | 670 | $84,650 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,070 | 700 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,910 | 190 |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $122,350 | 1,810 |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $114,800 | 1,370 |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $112,470 | 150 |
| 6 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $109,320 | 630 |
| 7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $108,900 | 270 |
| 8 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,990 | 570 |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,620 | 1,240 |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,420 | 780 |
| 11 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $95,980 | 130 |
| 12 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $90,460 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,810 | $122,350 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,370 | $114,800 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,330 | $85,710 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,240 | $100,620 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 780 | $100,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 700 | $130,070 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 630 | $109,320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 570 | $101,990 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 400 | $85,860 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 330 | $85,010 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 320 | $66,450 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 290 | $85,120 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)277 certified filingsMedian offered wage $75,000
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)10 certified filingsMedian offered wage $91,110
Microbiologists pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do microbiologists make?
- The median wage for microbiologists in the U.S. is $87,990 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $67,100 and $122,350.
- Which state pays microbiologists the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median wage for this occupation at $122,350 a year.
- What is the job outlook for microbiologists?
- BLS projects employment to grow 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 openings each year on average.
- What education do microbiologists need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.