Microbiologists Career, Salary and Skills
Microbiologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $87,990 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 18,940. Wage data is published for 114 locations.
Occupation description
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
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$87,990
Hourly median
$42.30
Employment
18,940
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.62 | 5.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 5.12 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.50 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.62 | 3.75 |
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.
Technology
- Assistant Software for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Interpretation ASASI
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- BD Biosciences CellQuest
- BD Biosciences CloneCyt
- Bruker Optics OPUS
- BtB Software Mycobacteriology Lab
- Codon Usage Database
- ComBase
- Computer Service & Support CLS-2000 Laboratory System
- Computing Solutions LabSoft LIMS Micro
- Database management software
- DM2 Bills of Lading
- Email software
- FindTarget
Microbiologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Microbiologists Salary in CAMedian $108,530 · Employment 2,600
- Microbiologists Salary in MAMedian $122,350 · Employment 1,960
- Microbiologists Salary in Boston, MAMedian $122,350 · Employment 1,810
- Microbiologists Salary in MDMedian $108,470 · Employment 1,590
- Microbiologists Salary in ILMedian $92,050 · Employment 1,470
- Microbiologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $114,800 · Employment 1,370
- Microbiologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $85,710 · Employment 1,330
- Microbiologists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $100,620 · Employment 1,240
- Microbiologists Salary in NCMedian $85,860 · Employment 1,050
- Microbiologists Salary in NYMedian $81,090 · Employment 1,050
- Microbiologists Salary in TXMedian $66,450 · Employment 920
- Microbiologists Salary in GAMedian $103,070 · Employment 880
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.