SOC 19-1022 · May 2025 · United States
Microbiologists
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Microbiologists across the United States is $87,990 per year, measured over 18,940 jobs. The highest state median is in Massachusetts, at $122,350.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +4.1%
- Openings per year
- 1,700
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Microbiologists
Pay for this occupation varies by 104.8% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Massachusetts pays $122,350 and Arkansas pays $59,750.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $122,350 | 1,960 | |
| 2 | California | $108,530 | 2,600 | |
| 3 | Maryland | $108,470 | 1,590 | |
| 4 | Georgia | $103,070 | 880 | |
| 5 | New Jersey | $96,020 | 790 | |
| 6 | Illinois | $92,050 | 1,470 | |
| 7 | Oregon | $89,220 | 170 | |
| 8 | Montana | $87,750 | 80 | |
| 9 | Connecticut | $86,360 | 180 | |
| 10 | North Carolina | $85,860 | 1,050 |
States with the most Microbiologists jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,600 | $108,530 | |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 1,960 | $122,350 | |
| 3 | Maryland | 1,590 | $108,470 | |
| 4 | Illinois | 1,470 | $92,050 | |
| 5 | New York | 1,050 | $81,090 | |
| 6 | North Carolina | 1,050 | $85,860 | |
| 7 | Texas | 920 | $66,450 | |
| 8 | Georgia | 880 | $103,070 | |
| 9 | New Jersey | 790 | $96,020 | |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 670 | $84,650 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $130,070 | 700 |
| 2 | San Jose | $123,910 | 190 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $123,590 | 30 |
| 4 | Boston | $122,350 | 1,810 |
| 5 | Vallejo | $115,980 | 30 |
| 6 | Worcester | $115,660 | 90 |
| 7 | Memphis | $114,840 | 70 |
| 8 | Washington | $114,800 | 1,370 |
| 9 | Sacramento | $112,470 | 150 |
| 10 | Athens | $112,440 | 80 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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