Microbiologist salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Microbiologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $108,900 a year ($52.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $142,950 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $87,990. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $108,530. There are 0.17 microbiologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $103,650, close to the median.
Pay range for microbiologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| 25th percentile | $80,210 | $38.56 |
| Median | $108,900 | $52.36 |
| 75th percentile | $115,580 | $55.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $142,950 | $68.73 |
| Average (mean) | $103,650 | $49.83 |
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 | $9,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,537.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,188.46 |
| Weekly | $2,094.23 |
| Hourly | $52.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Microbiologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,980 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $112,470 | 150 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,590 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,420 | 780 |
| Fresno, CA | $91,890 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,540 | 30 |
| Modesto, CA | $59,470 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for microbiologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122,350 |
| California | $108,530 |
| Maryland | $108,470 |
| Georgia | $103,070 |
| New Jersey | $96,020 |
| Illinois | $92,050 |
| Oregon | $89,220 |
| Montana | $87,750 |
| Connecticut | $86,360 |
| North Carolina | $85,860 |
See Microbiologist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,350 | $52.09 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $121,740 | $58.53 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $93,500 | $44.95 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,320 | $60.25 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Conservation Scientist | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $86,330 | $41.51 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $85,930 | $41.31 |
| Forester | $93,340 | $44.88 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Biological Technician | $67,060 | $32.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,230 | $48.67 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for microbiologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $108,900 a year, or $52.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $142,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid microbiologists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of microbiologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $142,950 a year. The top 25% earn $115,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for microbiologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,090 a year, and a quarter of microbiologists earn $80,210 or less.
How many microbiologists work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 270 microbiologists are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.