Microbiologists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$87,990
United States, 2025
Employment
18,940
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 19-1022.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Typical tasks
- Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
- Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Use a variety of specialized equipment, such as electron microscopes, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.
- Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease, including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations, based upon research outcomes.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$54,670
25th percentile
$67,100
75th percentile
$122,350
90th percentile
$150,000
Most important skills
- Science4.6
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Learning Strategies3.6
- Monitoring3.6
- Mathematics3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 19 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
19
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.6 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | 5.1 | Not selected | 5.1 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.9 | Not selected | 4.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 | 4.5 | Not selected | 4.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $66,120
Compare with MicrobiologistsSupplemental
National median $109,370
Compare with MicrobiologistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with MicrobiologistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with MicrobiologistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $130,070 | 700 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $123,910 | 190 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $123,590 | 30 | 2025 |
| MA | $122,350 | 1,960 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $122,350 | 1,810 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,980 | 30 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | $115,660 | 90 | 2025 |
| Memphis, TN | $114,840 | 70 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $114,800 | 1,370 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $112,470 | 150 | 2025 |
| Athens, GA | $112,440 | 80 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | $109,320 | 630 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $108,900 | 270 | 2025 |
| CA | $108,530 | 2,600 | 2025 |
| MD | $108,470 | 1,590 | 2025 |
| GA | $103,070 | 880 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $102,590 | 70 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $101,990 | 570 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $100,620 | 1,240 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,420 | 780 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Microbiologists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.