Average Salary for Microbiologists
SOC 19-1022 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Microbiologists in the United States is $87,330 ($41.98/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $51,220 at the 10th percentile to $150,650 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 19,760 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 28.8% since 2014.
Median Annual
$87,330
Mean Annual
$95,200
10th Pct
$51,220
75th Pct
$120,750
Employment
19,760
Salary Distribution
$51k
10th
$64k
25th
$87k
Median
$121k
75th
$151k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,830 |
| Worcester, MA | $127,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $126,140 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $124,580 |
| Modesto, CA | $113,870 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $110,260 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $108,970 |
| Ames, IA | $108,040 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,660 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $105,630 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,820 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,960 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,480 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $97,090 |
| New Haven, CT | $96,820 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $126,260 |
| California | $107,380 |
| Maryland | $101,060 |
| Georgia | $97,090 |
| Maine | $94,920 |
| Oregon | $89,220 |
| Montana | $88,770 |
| Virginia | $88,080 |
| New Hampshire | $86,380 |
| New York | $85,850 |
| Minnesota | $85,340 |
| North Carolina | $82,170 |
| Connecticut | $82,080 |
| New Jersey | $82,070 |
| Indiana | $80,110 |
| South Dakota | $77,730 |
| Washington | $77,130 |
| Alaska | $76,900 |
| Iowa | $76,490 |
| Ohio | $75,940 |
| Delaware | $75,720 |
| Mississippi | $75,590 |
| Illinois | $74,350 |
| Florida | $74,220 |
| Nebraska | $72,950 |
| Nevada | $72,380 |
| Tennessee | $71,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,010 |
| Michigan | $70,610 |
| Colorado | $69,010 |
| Missouri | $68,630 |
| Utah | $67,780 |
| Hawaii | $65,000 |
| Wisconsin | $63,470 |
| Kentucky | $62,900 |
| Texas | $62,720 |
| Kansas | $62,470 |
| North Dakota | $61,420 |
| Arkansas | $60,710 |
| Idaho | $60,450 |
| South Carolina | $57,690 |
| Puerto Rico | $57,570 |
| Alabama | $55,600 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Microbiologists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $142,790 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $132,790 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $132,790 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $121,390 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $108,970 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $102,490 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $102,490 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $101,740 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $101,740 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $101,510 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $101,490 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $100,690 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $100,690 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $100,520 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $100,520 |
| Hospitals | $99,890 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $99,890 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $97,990 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $97,990 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $97,990 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $97,050 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $96,990 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $91,990 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $91,890 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $90,080 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $89,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $89,710 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $86,320 |
| Veterinary Services | $85,950 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $85,930 |
| Wholesale Trade | $83,690 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $82,500 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $82,250 |
| Manufacturing | $81,590 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $81,130 |
| Engineering Services | $77,460 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $77,400 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,980 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $68,190 |
| Educational Services | $66,510 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $66,510 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $64,570 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $64,280 |
| Educational Services | $64,170 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $64,150 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $64,010 |
| Food Manufacturing | $62,460 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $61,010 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $59,400 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $59,400 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $58,690 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $58,490 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $58,490 |
| Employment Services | $55,760 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $55,100 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $54,630 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $54,630 |
| Temporary Help Services | $51,220 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $87,330 |
| 2023 | $85,470 |
| 2022 | $81,990 |
| 2021 | $79,260 |
| 2020 | $84,400 |
| 2019 | $75,650 |
| 2018 | $71,650 |
| 2017 | $69,960 |
| 2016 | $66,850 |
| 2015 | $67,550 |
| 2014 | $67,790 |