What are the main factors that influence a Microbiologist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Microbiologist's salary?

A Microbiologist's salary grows with experience: a Microbiologist I (0-2 years)earns $59,318, a Microbiologist II (2-4 years)earns $73,467, a Microbiologist (4-7 years)earns $83,906, a Microbiologist IV (7+ years)earns $94,489, a Microbiologist V (7-10 years)earns $135,183,

What are the highest paying states for a Microbiologist?

Microbiologist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Microbiologist roles are District of Columbia $93,553, California $93,198, Massachusetts $91,956. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Microbiologist roles make?

Salaries for Microbiologist level roles vary by specialization: Microbiologist V: $133,898; Microbiologist, Specialist: $93,600; Microbiologist IV: $93,591; Microbiologist, Senior: $83,200; Microbiologist III: $83,108.

How do different companies affect a Microbiologist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Microbiologist roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Microbiologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Microbiologist make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Microbiologist in the United States is $84,495 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

However, a Microbiologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,566
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,725 to $93,954
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,651

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI Onboarding

Smart Recruiting

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Microbiologist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$93,954	$7,829	$1,807	$45
Average	$84,495	$7,041	$1,625	$41
25th Percentile	$76,725	$6,394	$1,475	$37

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Microbiologist Job Openings in the United States

Biologist/Microbiologist I with Security Clearance

Amentum - Reynoldsburg, OH

BIOLOGIST/MICROBIOLOGIST I WITH SECURITY CLEARANCE

Amentum - Reynoldsburg, OH

Microbiologist I

Merieux NutriSciences - Columbus, OH

Entry Level Microbiologist

Actalent - Covington, OH

Search More Microbiologist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Microbiologist Salaries

A Microbiologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Microbiologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Microbiologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,318
Early Career (1-2 years): $73,467
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $83,906
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $94,489
Expert (over 8 years): $135,183

Levels	Salary
Microbiol... Level Microbiologist	$59,318
Microbiol... Level Microbiologist	$73,467
Microbiol... Level Microbiologist	$83,906
Microbiol... Level Microbiologist	$94,489
Microbiol... Level Microbiologist	$135,183

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Microbiologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Microbiologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $93,553.
California: $93,198.
Massachusetts: $91,956.

District of Columbia $93,553 California $93,198 Massachusetts $91,956 Washington $91,618 New Jersey $91,584 Alaska $91,466 Connecticut $90,300 New York $89,826

Hawaii $88,314 Rhode Island $87,604 Maryland $87,123 Minnesota $86,464 Colorado $86,210 Illinois $86,126 Oregon $85,804 Delaware $85,568

New Hampshire $85,419 Virginia $85,086 Pennsylvania $84,115 Nevada $83,625 North Dakota $83,464 Michigan $83,211 Wisconsin $83,118 Vermont $82,932

Texas $82,416 Maine $82,382 Arizona $82,332 Ohio $82,273 Georgia $81,495 Indiana $81,107 Wyoming $81,031 Utah $80,912

Iowa $80,862 Kansas $80,456 Louisiana $80,338 North Carolina $80,295 Missouri $80,279 Florida $79,949 Montana $79,772 Nebraska $79,603

Kentucky $79,510 South Carolina $79,172 Tennessee $78,960 Idaho $78,876 New Mexico $78,259 Oklahoma $78,124 Alabama $77,625 South Dakota $76,789

Arkansas $76,333 West Virginia $76,088 Mississippi $75,352

Top Paying Cities for Microbiologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $106,573
San Francisco: $105,526
Oakland: $103,185

San Jose, CA $106,573

San Francisco, CA $105,526

Oakland, CA $103,185

New York, NY $97,921

Queens Village, NY $97,287

Paramus, NJ $96,611

Passaic, NJ $96,527

Bergenfield, NJ $96,442

Stamford, CT $96,316

Huntington, NY $96,231

Newark, NJ $95,682

Bridgeport, CT $95,513

New Brunswick, NJ $95,234

Vallejo, CA $95,057

Middlesex, NJ $95,006

Somerset, NJ $94,930

Petaluma, CA $94,736

Santa Cruz, CA $94,406

Boston, MA $94,237

Monterey, CA $93,815

Fairbanks, AK $93,755

Los Angeles, CA $93,595

Washington, DC $93,553

Seattle, WA $93,401

Santa Rosa, CA $93,384

Juneau, AK $93,139

Orange, CA $92,860

Anchorage, AK $92,708

Anaheim, CA $92,649

Santa Ana, CA $92,522

Nassau, NY $92,471

Long Beach, CA $92,437

Danbury, CT $92,412

Santa Maria, CA $92,125

Everett, WA $92,108

Bremerton, WA $91,694

Trenton, NJ $91,533

Sacramento, CA $91,499

San Diego, CA $91,457

Brockton, MA $91,423

Tacoma, WA $91,390

Santa Barbara, CA $91,271

Lowell, MA $90,933

New Suffolk, NY $90,900

Nashua, NH $90,798

Lompoc, CA $90,663

Ventura, CA $90,578

Stockton, CA $90,553

New Haven, CT $90,384

Atlantic City, NJ $90,164

Hartford, CT $89,979

Modesto, CA $89,936

Poughkeepsie, NY $89,750

New Britain, CT $89,708

Kennewick, WA $89,590

Olympia, WA $89,590

New London, CT $89,573

Norwich, CT $89,548

Lawrence, MA $89,505

Bakersfield, CA $89,269

New Bedford, MA $89,150

Riverside, CA $89,150

Richland, WA $89,066

Portsmouth, NH $88,998

Vineland, NJ $88,982

San Bernardino, CA $88,914

Boulder, CO $88,677

Worcester, MA $88,610

Portland, OR $88,534

Saint Paul, MN $88,432

Minneapolis, MN $88,432

Philadelphia, PA $88,314

Honolulu, HI $87,866

Springfield, MA $87,570

Providence, RI $87,562

Chicago, IL $87,317

Bellingham, WA $87,216

Baltimore, MD $87,123

Chico, CA $86,911

Wilmington, DE $86,768

Pittsfield, MA $86,683

Manchester, NH $86,523

Spokane, WA $86,151

Denver, CO $86,142

Albany, NY $85,745

Troy, NY $85,712

Schenectady, NY $85,534

Burlington, VT $85,348

Portland, ME $85,052

Salem, OR $84,985

Yakima, WA $84,968

Ann Arbor, MI $84,943

Rochester, MN $84,706

Reno, NV $84,664

Fresno, CA $84,664

Milwaukee, WI $84,588

Detroit, MI $84,503

Allentown, PA $84,478

Carson City, NV $84,469

Houston, TX $84,343

Colorado Springs, CO $84,334

Syracuse, NY $84,292

Eugene, OR $84,131

Gary, IN $84,030

Bismarck, ND $84,030

Galveston, TX $84,030

Springfield, OR $83,963

Medford, OR $83,760

Fort Collins, CO $83,726

Austin, TX $83,658

Mesa, AZ $83,481

Phoenix, AZ $83,464

Dallas, TX $83,439

Reading, PA $83,388

Saint Cloud, MN $83,354

Concord, NH $83,278

Madison, WI $83,244

Utica, NY $83,016

Raleigh, NC $82,949

Las Vegas, NV $82,940

Rochester, NY $82,881

Des Moines, IA $82,873

Atlanta, GA $82,737

Battle Creek, MI $82,712

Salt Lake City, UT $82,687

Lancaster, PA $82,560

Champaign, IL $82,543

Harrisburg, PA $82,442

Durham, NC $82,366

Kansas City, MO $82,357

Kansas City, KS $82,340

Fort Worth, TX $82,332

Boca Raton, FL $82,298

Cleveland, OH $82,290

Columbus, OH $82,273

Pittsburgh, PA $82,264

Richmond, VA $82,230

Indianapolis, IN $82,213

Cincinnati, OH $82,104

Petersburg, VA $81,977

Lansing, MI $81,791

Billings, MT $81,791

Huntsville, AL $81,791

Lebanon, PA $81,783

Pueblo, CO $81,774

Dayton, OH $81,774

Appleton, WI $81,749

Buffalo, NY $81,715

Racine, WI $81,673

Charlotte, NC $81,664

Saint Louis, MO $81,639

Springfield, IL $81,605

York, PA $81,588

Elkhart, IN $81,588

Gastonia, NC $81,580

Benton Harbor, MI $81,580

Beaumont, TX $81,529

Lorain, OH $81,512

Toledo, OH $81,478

Binghamton, NY $81,436

Rock Hill, SC $81,428

Rockford, IL $81,385

Elyria, OH $81,343

Fargo, ND $81,343

Flagstaff, AZ $81,284

Fort Lauderdale, FL $81,233

Miami, FL $81,183

Duluth, MN $81,047

Bangor, ME $80,938

Cedar Rapids, IA $80,845

Louisville, KY $80,802

Grand Rapids, MI $80,786

Hialeah, FL $80,777

Casper, WY $80,659

Scranton, PA $80,557

New Orleans, LA $80,532

Virginia Beach, VA $80,524

Akron, OH $80,481

Peoria, IL $80,371

Sarasota, FL $80,355

Green Bay, WI $80,295

Baton Rouge, LA $80,253

Charleston, SC $80,236

Nashville, TN $80,211

Jamestown, NY $80,194

Davenport, IA $80,194

Tucson, AZ $80,152

Cheyenne, WY $80,126

Saint Petersburg, FL $80,101

Tampa, FL $80,084

Omaha, NE $80,067

Evansville, IN $80,033

Port Arthur, TX $80,033

Bradenton, FL $80,000

Santa Fe, NM $79,848

Orlando, FL $79,763

Clearwater, FL $79,670

La Crosse, WI $79,493

Canton, OH $79,493

Grand Forks, ND $79,467

Tulsa, OK $79,442

Albuquerque, NM $79,442

Newport News, VA $79,434

High Point, NC $79,408

Ogden, UT $79,374

Corpus Christi, TX $79,307

Laramie, WY $79,256

Norfolk, VA $79,256

Rock Island, IL $79,205

Saginaw, MI $79,189

Jacksonville, FL $79,180

Salisbury, NC $79,163

Memphis, TN $79,146

Moline, IL $79,104

Fort Myers, FL $79,079

Waterloo, IA $78,969

Spartanburg, SC $78,884

Lincoln, NE $78,842

Fort Wayne, IN $78,825

Birmingham, AL $78,732

Cedar Falls, IA $78,715

Provo, UT $78,707

Springfield, OH $78,698

San Antonio, TX $78,682

Greensboro, NC $78,648

South Bend, IN $78,639

Winston Salem, NC $78,631

Boise, ID $78,606

Savannah, GA $78,546

Muskegon, MI $78,394

Lima, OH $78,293

Lake Charles, LA $78,259

Anderson, IN $78,242

Lexington, KY $78,217

Augusta, GA $78,192

Greenville, SC $78,192

Wichita, KS $78,115

Tuscaloosa, AL $78,115

Columbia, SC $78,039

Bloomington, IN $77,828

Roanoke, VA $77,777

Asheville, NC $77,668

Knoxville, TN $77,524

Shreveport, LA $77,516

Wilmington, NC $77,406

Frankfort, KY $77,245

Oklahoma City, OK $77,186

Chillicothe, OH $77,152

Longview, TX $77,144

Topeka, KS $77,118

Mobile, AL $76,992

Terre Haute, IN $76,958

Erie, PA $76,949

Altoona, PA $76,907

Melbourne, FL $76,882

Amarillo, TX $76,848

Killeen, TX $76,823

Fayetteville, AR $76,755

Sioux Falls, SD $76,696

Chattanooga, TN $76,645

Idaho Falls, ID $76,637

Gainesville, FL $76,459

Portsmouth, OH $76,417

Little Rock, AR $76,400

Lynchburg, VA $76,400

Youngstown, OH $76,366

Lafayette, LA $76,366

Temple, TX $76,333

Daytona Beach, FL $76,316

Clarksville, TN $76,307

Pensacola, FL $76,299

Hopkinsville, KY $76,045

Charleston, WV $76,037

Florence, SC $75,995

Sioux City, IA $75,944

Macon, GA $75,699

Tallahassee, FL $75,690

Fayetteville, NC $75,674

Wichita Falls, TX $75,657

Waco, TX $75,657

Pine Bluff, AR $75,623

Vincennes, IN $75,462

Lubbock, TX $75,429

Great Falls, MT $75,378

Alamogordo, NM $75,369

Abilene, TX $75,302

Rapid City, SD $75,192

Monroe, LA $75,192

Albany, GA $75,141

Huntington, WV $75,133

Jackson, MS $75,124

Greenville, MS $75,116

Parkersburg, WV $75,031

Montgomery, AL $75,015

Johnstown, PA $74,998

Springfield, MO $74,930

Biloxi, MS $74,888

Sumter, SC $74,710

Columbus, GA $74,702

Twin Falls, ID $74,651

Pascagoula, MS $74,541

Kingsport, TN $74,322

Gulfport, MS $74,296

Alexandria, LA $74,017

Fort Smith, AR $73,806

El Paso, TX $73,578

Helena, MT $73,468

Las Cruces, NM $73,198

Harlingen, TX $72,961

Pocatello, ID $72,885

Florence, AL $72,860

Brownsville, TX $72,843

Dothan, AL $72,708

Mcallen, TX $72,666

Columbus, MS $72,040

Altus, OK $71,652

Lawton, OK $71,491

Pierre, SD $71,187

What Skills Can Increase a Microbiologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 10.01% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Chemistry (Mentioned in 3.58% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
ISO (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	10.01%
Chemistry	3.58%
ISO	1.81%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Microbiologist's salary.

Quality Control: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Quality Control	$87,030	3%
Initiative	$86,185	2%
SOP	$86,185	2%
Attention to Detail	$86,185	2%
Written Communication	$85,340	1%
Problem Solving	$84,495	0%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Microbiologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Microbiologists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Microbiologist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $75,442 and $81,153).

Microbiologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Microbiologist

No Diploma 39.8%

High School 29.5%

Associates 30.7%

Bachelors 39.8%

Masters 29.5%

Doctorate 30.7%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	39.8%
High School	29.5%
Associates	30.7%
Bachelors	39.8%
Masters	29.5%
Doctorate	30.7%

view as graph

Microbiologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Microbiologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

$76,725

Average $84,495/year

$93,954

$6,394

Average $7,041/month

$7,829

$1,475

Average $1,625/week

$1,807

$37

Average $41/hour

$45

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$93,954	$7,829	$1,807	$45
Average	$84,495	$7,041	$1,625	$41
25th Percentile	$76,725	$6,394	$1,475	$37

Salaries of jobs related to Microbiologist

Salary Trends for Microbiologist

Salaries for a Microbiologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $84,049 in 2023 to around $81,911 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Microbiologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Microbiologist Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$84,049

2024

$83,276

2025

$81,911

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$84,049
2024	$83,276
2025	$81,911
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Microbiologist

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Microbiologist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Microbiologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about