SOC 19-1022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Microbiologists — San Diego
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in San Diego, CA comes to $108,900 a year, ahead of the national median of $87,990 by 23.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in San Diego, CA comes to $108,900 a year, ahead of the national median of $87,990 by 23.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $80,210 and $115,580. The lowest tenth earn under $63,090, while the highest tenth earn more than $142,950.
Employment stands at 270, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $130,070. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 128th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,090 | −28.3% |
| 25th | $80,210 | −8.8% |
| Median (50th) | $108,900 | +23.8% |
| 75th | $115,580 | +31.4% |
| 90th | $142,950 | +62.5% |
| Mean | $103,650 | +17.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $130,070 | 700 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $123,910 | 190 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $123,590 | 30 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $115,980 | 30 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $112,470 | 150 | |
| 6 | Riverside | $102,590 | 70 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $100,420 | 780 | |
| 8 | Fresno | $91,890 | 30 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $80,540 | 30 | |
| 10 | Modesto | $59,470 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Diego run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $108,900 buys what $98,374 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$108,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$98,374US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $108,900 a year, 23.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,090 to $142,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 270 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $130,070.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Microbiologists in San Diego, CA?
The median annual wage is $108,900, or $52.36 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $87,990, so pay in San Diego, CA is 23.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Diego, CA earns more than $142,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,090 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $130,070 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 270 jobs in this occupation in San Diego, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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.
Explore related data