Microbiologists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for microbiologistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $97,600 ≈ $47/hr
National median salary $87,990
Total employment 18,940 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +4.1%
Faster than average
Annual openings 1,700 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 20,700 → 21,600 (+800)
Typical entry education Bachelor's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Massachusetts$119,700
- Maryland$114,990
- California$114,790
- Georgia$108,930
- Montana$104,520
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$67,720
- Alabama$69,120
- West Virginia$70,360
- Hawaii$71,820
- South Carolina$72,030
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $119,700 | $122,350 | $58 | +22.6% | 1,960 |
| 2 | Maryland | $114,990 | $108,470 | $55 | +17.8% | 1,590 |
| 3 | California | $114,790 | $108,530 | $55 | +17.6% | 2,600 |
| 4 | Georgia | $108,930 | $103,070 | $52 | +11.6% | 880 |
| 5 | Montana | $104,520 | $87,750 | $50 | +7.1% | 80 |
| 6 | Oregon | $97,510 | $89,220 | $47 | -0.1% | 170 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $95,920 | $96,020 | $46 | -1.7% | 790 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $95,490 | $85,860 | $46 | -2.2% | 1,050 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $95,220 | $83,400 | $46 | -2.4% | 290 |
| 10 | Virginia | $94,580 | $77,820 | $45 | -3.1% | 280 |
| 11 | Missouri | $94,410 | $78,590 | $45 | -3.3% | 140 |
| 12 | Illinois | $93,850 | $92,050 | $45 | -3.8% | 1,470 |
| 13 | New York | $93,220 | $81,090 | $45 | -4.5% | 1,050 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $93,070 | $86,360 | $45 | -4.6% | 180 |
| 15 | Colorado | $91,930 | $81,640 | $44 | -5.8% | 370 |
| 16 | Iowa | $91,170 | $79,830 | $44 | -6.6% | 180 |
| 17 | Delaware | $88,280 | $82,770 | $42 | -9.5% | 190 |
| 18 | Florida | $87,610 | $80,930 | $42 | -10.2% | 270 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $87,580 | $72,470 | $42 | -10.3% | 90 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $87,520 | $77,630 | $42 | -10.3% | 210 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $86,370 | $84,650 | $42 | -11.5% | 670 |
| 22 | Nevada | $85,220 | $64,490 | $41 | -12.7% | 110 |
| 23 | Indiana | $84,570 | $77,900 | $41 | -13.4% | 150 |
| 24 | Washington | $84,170 | $77,690 | $40 | -13.8% | 340 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $82,630 | $79,430 | $40 | -15.3% | 170 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $82,120 | $59,750 | $39 | -15.9% | 140 |
| 27 | Michigan | $80,240 | $78,680 | $39 | -17.8% | 370 |
| 28 | Utah | $79,830 | $72,600 | $38 | -18.2% | 120 |
| 29 | Ohio | $79,300 | $72,500 | $38 | -18.7% | 530 |
| 30 | Kansas | $78,920 | $70,500 | $38 | -19.1% | 120 |
| 31 | Alaska | $78,560 | $76,320 | $38 | -19.5% | 30 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $75,990 | $70,530 | $37 | -22.1% | 80 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $75,570 | $66,500 | $36 | -22.6% | 80 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $73,280 | $67,100 | $35 | -24.9% | 420 |
| 35 | Idaho | $73,080 | $65,940 | $35 | -25.1% | 70 |
| 36 | Texas | $72,510 | $66,450 | $35 | -25.7% | 920 |
| 37 | Arizona | $72,040 | $69,880 | $35 | -26.2% | 80 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $72,030 | $64,740 | $35 | -26.2% | 100 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $71,820 | $70,970 | $35 | -26.4% | 60 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $70,360 | $68,550 | $34 | -27.9% | 40 |
| 41 | Alabama | $69,120 | $65,690 | $33 | -29.2% | 110 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $67,720 | $61,690 | $33 | -30.6% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 76 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $133,470 | $148,290 | 30 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,070 | $135,860 | 700 |
| 3 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $129,960 | $136,710 | 40 |
| 4 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,910 | $124,300 | 190 |
| 5 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,590 | $126,450 | 30 |
| 6 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $122,350 | $121,080 | 1,810 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $115,980 | $125,010 | 30 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $115,660 | $113,530 | 90 |
| 9 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $114,840 | $112,180 | 70 |
| 10 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $114,800 | $122,560 | 1,370 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing microbiologistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outpatient Care Centers | $185,040 | $182,870 | 210 |
| 2 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $134,640 | $140,990 | 1,830 |
| 3 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,640 | $140,990 | 1,830 |
| 4 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $128,170 | $125,470 | 100 |
| 5 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $128,170 | $125,470 | 100 |
| 6 | Ambulatory Health Care Services | $112,600 | $126,270 | 650 |
| 7 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $109,280 | $111,210 | 90 |
| 8 | Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $109,280 | $111,690 | 80 |
| 9 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $108,680 | $114,990 | 320 |
| 10 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $108,680 | $114,990 | 320 |
| 11 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $108,680 | $114,990 | 320 |
| 12 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $105,880 | $111,620 | 3,760 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do microbiologists make in the U.S.?
The median microbiologists salary in the United States is $87,990 per year (mean $97,600), and about 80% earn between $54,670 and $150,000.
How much do microbiologists make per hour?
Roughly $47 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $97,600 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays microbiologists the most?
Massachusetts has the highest average pay for microbiologists at $119,700 per year (median $122,350).
What is the job outlook for microbiologists?
Employment is projected to change +4.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 1,700 openings per year.
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Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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