How much does a microbiologist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $42.30 an hour or $7,333 a month.
- Hourly
- $42.30
- Average (mean)
- $97,600
- Jobs
- 18,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,670 | $26.28 | |
| 25th | $67,100 | $32.26 | |
| Median | $87,990 | $42.30 | |
| 75th | $122,400 | $58.82 | |
| 90th | $150,000 | $72.12 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Massachusetts | $122,400 |
| California | $108,500 |
| Maryland | $108,500 |
| Georgia | $103,100 |
| New Jersey | $96,020 |
| Illinois | $92,050 |
| Oregon | $89,220 |
| Montana | $87,750 |
| Connecticut | $86,360 |
| North Carolina | $85,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,650 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 |
| Delaware | $82,770 |
| Colorado | $81,640 |
| New York | $81,090 |
| Florida | $80,930 |
| Iowa | $79,830 |
| New Hampshire | $79,430 |
| Michigan | $78,680 |
| Missouri | $78,590 |
| Indiana | $77,900 |
| Virginia | $77,820 |
| Washington | $77,690 |
| Tennessee | $77,630 |
| Alaska | $76,320 |
| Utah | $72,600 |
| Ohio | $72,500 |
| Nebraska | $72,470 |
| Hawaii | $70,970 |
| South Dakota | $70,530 |
| Kansas | $70,500 |
| Arizona | $69,880 |
| West Virginia | $68,550 |
| Wisconsin | $67,100 |
| Kentucky | $66,500 |
| Texas | $66,450 |
| Idaho | $65,940 |
| Alabama | $65,690 |
| South Carolina | $64,740 |
| Nevada | $64,490 |
| Mississippi | $61,690 |
| Arkansas | $59,750 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $130,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $123,900 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $123,600 |
| Boston, MA | $122,400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $116,000 |
| Worcester, MA | $115,700 |
| Memphis, TN | $114,800 |
| Washington, DC | $114,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $112,500 |
| Athens, GA | $112,400 |
| Atlanta, GA | $109,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $108,900 |
| Riverside, CA | $102,600 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $102,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $100,600 |
In other countries
Microbiologist belongs to the international group "Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Animal Scientist$68,940
- Food Scientist and Technologist$88,720
- Soil and Plant Scientist$78,850
- Biochemist and Biophysicist$127,400
- Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$76,780
- Biological Scientist$98,920
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Forester$76,400
- Epidemiologist$87,220
- Medical Scientist$103,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a microbiologist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $42.30 ($87,990 a year).
How much does a microbiologist make a month?
About $7,333 a month before tax, based on a median of $87,990 a year.
How much does a microbiologist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $54,670 or less a year ($26.28 an hour); the top 10% make $150,000 or more.
Which state pays microbiologists the most?
Massachusetts, with a median of $122,400 a year, followed by California ($108,500) and Maryland ($108,500).
Which city pays microbiologists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $130,100 a year.
How many microbiologists are there in the United States?
About 18,940 people work as microbiologists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.