Microbiologist salary in the U.S.
Microbiologists in the U.S. earn a median of $87,990 a year ($42.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,000 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $97,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for microbiologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,670 | $26.28 |
| 25th percentile | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Median | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| 75th percentile | $122,350 | $58.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| Average (mean) | $97,600 | $46.92 |
Half of microbiologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,332.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,666.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,384.23 |
| Weekly | $1,692.12 |
| Hourly | $42.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Microbiologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122,350 | 1,960 |
| California | $108,530 | 2,600 |
| Maryland | $108,470 | 1,590 |
| Georgia | $103,070 | 880 |
| New Jersey | $96,020 | 790 |
| Illinois | $92,050 | 1,470 |
| Oregon | $89,220 | 170 |
| Montana | $87,750 | 80 |
| Connecticut | $86,360 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $85,860 | 1,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,650 | 670 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | 290 |
| Delaware | $82,770 | 190 |
| Colorado | $81,640 | 370 |
| New York | $81,090 | 1,050 |
| Florida | $80,930 | 270 |
| Iowa | $79,830 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $79,430 | 170 |
| Michigan | $78,680 | 370 |
| Missouri | $78,590 | 140 |
| Indiana | $77,900 | 150 |
| Virginia | $77,820 | 280 |
| Washington | $77,690 | 340 |
| Tennessee | $77,630 | 210 |
| Alaska | $76,320 | 30 |
| Utah | $72,600 | 120 |
| Ohio | $72,500 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $72,470 | 90 |
| Hawaii | $70,970 | 60 |
| South Dakota | $70,530 | 80 |
| Kansas | $70,500 | 120 |
| Arizona | $69,880 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $68,550 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $67,100 | 420 |
| Kentucky | $66,500 | 80 |
| Texas | $66,450 | 920 |
| Idaho | $65,940 | 70 |
| Alabama | $65,690 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $64,740 | 100 |
| Nevada | $64,490 | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,680 | 190 |
| Mississippi | $61,690 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $59,750 | 140 |
Best-paying metro areas for microbiologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,070 | 700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,910 | 190 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,590 | 30 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $122,350 | 1,810 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,980 | 30 |
| Worcester, MA | $115,660 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $114,840 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $114,800 | 1,370 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $112,470 | 150 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $112,440 | 80 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $109,320 | 630 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $108,900 | 270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,590 | 70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,990 | 570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,620 | 1,240 |
Metro areas with the most microbiologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Madison, WI | 270 | $67,940 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 270 | $108,900 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 260 | $85,340 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a microbiologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for microbiologists in the U.S. is $87,990 a year, or $42.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid microbiologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of microbiologists in the U.S. earn at least $150,000 a year. The top 25% earn $122,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for microbiologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,670 a year, and a quarter of microbiologists earn $67,100 or less.
How many microbiologists work in the U.S.?
About 18,940 microbiologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.