How much does a Microbiologist make?
A Microbiologist earns a median annual salary of $87,990 in the United States, which works out to roughly $42.30 per hour for full-time work. Most Microbiologists earn between $54,670 at the entry level and $150,000 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $67,100 and $122,350 a year.
That is $26,600 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Microbiologist salary range by percentile
Half of all Microbiologists earn between $67,100 and $122,350 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,670 | $26.28 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $67,100 | $32.26 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $87,990 | $42.30 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $122,350 | $58.82 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,000 | $72.12 |
Highest-paying states for Microbiologist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Massachusetts leads the country for Microbiologist pay at $122,350 a year, followed by California ($108,530) and Maryland ($108,470). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $59,750 — a gap of $62,600 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $122,350 | $58.82 | +39% |
| 2 | California | $108,530 | $52.18 | +23% |
| 3 | Maryland | $108,470 | $52.15 | +23% |
| 4 | Georgia | $103,070 | $49.55 | +17% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $96,020 | $46.16 | +9% |
Microbiologist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 42 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 19,000 people work as Microbiologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $97,600 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
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