SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-1022.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $54,670 | $4,556 | $1,051 | $26.28 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $67,100 | $5,592 | $1,290 | $32.26 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $87,990 | $7,332 | $1,692 | $42.30 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $122,350 | $10,196 | $2,353 | $58.82 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $150,000 | $12,500 | $2,885 | $72.12 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Microbiologists is $87,990, which is 73% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 26 by median pay. With 18,940 jobs, it makes up about 1.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($97,600) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Microbiologists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Massachusetts ($122,350), California ($108,530) and Maryland ($108,470). The lowest was in Arkansas ($59,750), Mississippi ($61,690) and Puerto Rico ($63,680). The most jobs were in California (2,600), Massachusetts (1,960) and Maryland (1,590). The occupation is most concentrated in Maryland, where its share of all jobs is 4.7 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1,960 | $122,350 | $119,700 | $58.82 |
| California | 2,600 | $108,530 | $114,790 | $52.18 |
| Maryland | 1,590 | $108,470 | $114,990 | $52.15 |
| Georgia | 880 | $103,070 | $108,930 | $49.55 |
| New Jersey | 790 | $96,020 | $95,920 | $46.16 |
| Illinois | 1,470 | $92,050 | $93,850 | $44.26 |
| Oregon | 170 | $89,220 | $97,510 | $42.90 |
| Montana | 80 | $87,750 | $104,520 | $42.19 |
| Connecticut | 180 | $86,360 | $93,070 | $41.52 |
| North Carolina | 1,050 | $85,860 | $95,490 | $41.28 |
| Pennsylvania | 670 | $84,650 | $86,370 | $40.70 |
| Minnesota | 290 | $83,400 | $95,220 | $40.09 |
| Delaware | 190 | $82,770 | $88,280 | $39.79 |
| Colorado | 370 | $81,640 | $91,930 | $39.25 |
| New York | 1,050 | $81,090 | $93,220 | $38.99 |
| Florida | 270 | $80,930 | $87,610 | $38.91 |
| Iowa | 180 | $79,830 | $91,170 | $38.38 |
| New Hampshire | 170 | $79,430 | $82,630 | $38.19 |
| Michigan | 370 | $78,680 | $80,240 | $37.83 |
| Missouri | 140 | $78,590 | $94,410 | $37.78 |
| Indiana | 150 | $77,900 | $84,570 | $37.45 |
| Virginia | 280 | $77,820 | $94,580 | $37.41 |
| Washington | 340 | $77,690 | $84,170 | $37.35 |
| Tennessee | 210 | $77,630 | $87,520 | $37.32 |
| Alaska | 30 | $76,320 | $78,560 | $36.69 |
| Utah | 120 | $72,600 | $79,830 | $34.90 |
| Ohio | 530 | $72,500 | $79,300 | $34.86 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $72,470 | $87,580 | $34.84 |
| Hawaii | 60 | $70,970 | $71,820 | $34.12 |
| South Dakota | 80 | $70,530 | $75,990 | $33.91 |
| Kansas | 120 | $70,500 | $78,920 | $33.90 |
| Arizona | 80 | $69,880 | $72,040 | $33.60 |
| West Virginia | 40 | $68,550 | $70,360 | $32.96 |
| Wisconsin | 420 | $67,100 | $73,280 | $32.26 |
| Kentucky | 80 | $66,500 | $75,570 | $31.97 |
| Texas | 920 | $66,450 | $72,510 | $31.95 |
| Idaho | 70 | $65,940 | $73,080 | $31.70 |
| Alabama | 110 | $65,690 | $69,120 | $31.58 |
| South Carolina | 100 | $64,740 | $72,030 | $31.13 |
| Nevada | 110 | $64,490 | $85,220 | $31.01 |
| Puerto Rico | 190 | $63,680 | $66,560 | $30.61 |
| Mississippi | not published | $61,690 | $67,720 | $29.66 |
| Arkansas | 140 | $59,750 | $82,120 | $28.73 |
| Maine | 30 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150 a year
- Urban and Regional Planners$89,320 a year
- Food Scientists and Technologists$88,720 a year
- Epidemiologists$87,220 a year
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220 a year
- Soil and Plant Scientists$78,850 a year
Common questions
How much do Microbiologists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $87,990 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,670 and the highest-paid 10% more than $150,000.
How many people work as Microbiologists?
About 18,940 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.