SOC 19-1022 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Microbiologists

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$87,990

U.S. median hourly wage$42.30

U.S. employment18,940

Nationally, microbiologists earned a median of $87,990 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 18,940 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Microbiologists: pay and employment by state
State
Massachusetts	$122,350	$58.82	1,960	0.5
California	$108,530	$52.18	2,600	0.1
Maryland	$108,470	$52.15	1,590	0.6
Georgia	$103,070	$49.55	880	0.2
New Jersey	$96,020	$46.16	790	0.2
Illinois	$92,050	$44.26	1,470	0.2
Oregon	$89,220	$42.90	170	0.1
Montana	$87,750	$42.19	80	0.2
Connecticut	$86,360	$41.52	180	0.1
North Carolina	$85,860	$41.28	1,050	0.2
Pennsylvania	$84,650	$40.70	670	0.1
Minnesota	$83,400	$40.09	290	0.1
Delaware	$82,770	$39.79	190	0.4
Colorado	$81,640	$39.25	370	0.1
New York	$81,090	$38.99	1,050	0.1
Florida	$80,930	$38.91	270	0.0
Iowa	$79,830	$38.38	180	0.1
New Hampshire	$79,430	$38.19	170	0.3
Michigan	$78,680	$37.83	370	0.1
Missouri	$78,590	$37.78	140	0.0
Indiana	$77,900	$37.45	150	0.0
Virginia	$77,820	$37.41	280	0.1
Washington	$77,690	$37.35	340	0.1
Tennessee	$77,630	$37.32	210	0.1
Alaska	$76,320	$36.69	30	0.1
Utah	$72,600	$34.90	120	0.1
Ohio	$72,500	$34.86	530	0.1
Nebraska	$72,470	$34.84	90	0.1
Hawaii	$70,970	$34.12	60	0.1
South Dakota	$70,530	$33.91	80	0.2
Kansas	$70,500	$33.90	120	0.1
Arizona	$69,880	$33.60	80	0.0
West Virginia	$68,550	$32.96	40	0.1
Wisconsin	$67,100	$32.26	420	0.1
Kentucky	$66,500	$31.97	80	0.0
Texas	$66,450	$31.95	920	0.1
Idaho	$65,940	$31.70	70	0.1
Alabama	$65,690	$31.58	110	0.1
South Carolina	$64,740	$31.13	100	0.0
Nevada	$64,490	$31.01	110	0.1
Puerto Rico	$63,680	$30.61	190	0.2
Mississippi	$61,690	$29.66	Not published	Not published
Arkansas	$59,750	$28.73	140	0.1
Maine	Not published	Not published	30	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 72 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Microbiologists: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$130,070	$62.53	700	0.3
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$123,910	$59.57	190	0.2
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$123,590	$59.42	30	0.2
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$122,350	$58.82	1,810	0.7
Vallejo, CA	$115,980	$55.76	30	0.2
Worcester, MA	$115,660	$55.61	90	0.3
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$114,840	$55.21	70	0.1
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$114,800	$55.19	1,370	0.4
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$112,470	$54.07	150	0.1
Athens-Clarke County, GA	$112,440	$54.06	80	0.9
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$109,320	$52.56	630	0.2
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$108,900	$52.36	270	0.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$102,590	$49.32	70	0.0
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$101,990	$49.03	570	0.2
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$100,620	$48.38	1,240	0.3
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$100,420	$48.28	780	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$95,980	$46.14	130	0.1
Peoria, IL	$93,240	$44.83	30	0.2
Fresno, CA	$91,890	$44.18	30	0.1
Richmond, VA	$90,930	$43.72	50	0.1
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$90,460	$43.49	140	0.1
St. Louis, MO-IL	$89,630	$43.09	120	0.1
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$89,240	$42.90	60	0.5
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$86,120	$41.40	70	0.3
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$85,860	$41.28	400	1.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$85,710	$41.21	1,330	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$85,470	$41.09	80	0.1
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$85,340	$41.03	260	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$85,120	$40.92	290	0.2
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$85,010	$40.87	330	0.4
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$84,880	$40.81	110	0.2
Manhattan, KS	$81,330	$39.10	40	0.8
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$80,870	$38.88	90	0.1
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$80,540	$38.72	30	0.1
Wilmington, NC	$80,470	$38.69	Not published	Not published
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$80,270	$38.59	60	0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$79,990	$38.46	40	0.0
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$79,910	$38.42	70	0.1
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$78,120	$37.56	160	0.0
Columbus, OH	$78,030	$37.51	170	0.2
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$77,770	$37.39	100	0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$77,690	$37.35	220	0.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$77,620	$37.32	100	0.1
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$76,220	$36.64	60	0.1
Reno, NV	$75,310	$36.21	50	0.2
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$73,690	$35.43	70	0.0
Cleveland, OH	$73,600	$35.39	70	0.1
Kansas City, MO-KS	$70,220	$33.76	40	0.0
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$69,880	$33.60	60	0.0
Rochester, NY	$68,850	$33.10	60	0.1
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$67,960	$32.67	100	0.5
Madison, WI	$67,940	$32.66	270	0.7
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$66,730	$32.08	80	0.0
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$66,560	$32.00	60	0.5
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$66,500	$31.97	50	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$66,450	$31.95	320	0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$65,910	$31.69	170	0.2
Urban Honolulu, HI	$65,650	$31.56	50	0.1
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$65,160	$31.33	70	0.1
Bozeman, MT	$65,120	$31.31	40	0.5
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$63,960	$30.75	140	0.2
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$62,790	$30.19	50	0.0
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$62,090	$29.85	40	0.1
Boise City, ID	$61,860	$29.74	40	0.1
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$61,840	$29.73	40	0.1
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$61,710	$29.67	50	0.2
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$61,310	$29.48	140	0.1
Pittsburgh, PA	$59,940	$28.82	120	0.1
Modesto, CA	$59,470	$28.59	80	0.4
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$55,090	$26.49	40	0.1
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$51,520	$24.77	70	0.2
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	Not published	Not published	200	1.2

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.