How much does a microbiologist make?
a year · about $42 an hour
A typical microbiologist in the United States makes $87,990 a year, about $42 an hour, about 1.7× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They collect samples, grow and identify microbes in lab dishes with microscopes and other tools, then record and analyze results. They may write reports or share findings with teammates, following safety rules around risky microbes.
Did you know? NASA and Boeing made the first identification of unknown bacteria in space, aboard the International Space Station, using portable DNA tools.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $54,670 and $150,000How do you become one?
In the U.S., most microbiologists earn a bachelor’s degree in microbiology or a related field, with lab courses and often an internship. Some roles prefer a master’s or Ph.D.; certification is usually optional, and people usually start after college.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, extra education or specialty certification, and the kind of employer, such as a government lab, university, or testing lab. Location, specialized tasks, responsibility, and work hours or shifts can matter too.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($122,350), lowest in Texas ($66,450).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $54,670 | $87,990 | $150,000 | about 19,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122,350 | about 2,000 |
| California | $108,530 | about 3,000 |
| Maryland | $108,470 | about 2,000 |
| Georgia | $103,070 | about 880 |
| New Jersey | $96,020 | about 790 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/microbiologists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1022.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.nasa.gov/missions/station/microbiology-101-where-people-go-microbes-follow
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY