How much does a microbiologist make in San Diego?
$108,900a year
Median yearly pay for microbiologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $52.36 an hour or $9,075 a month.
- Hourly
- $52.36
- Vs. national median
- +24%
- Rank among cities
- 12 of 71
- Jobs in the area
- 270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $63,090Median: $108,900Highest 10%: $143,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,090 | $30.33 | |
| 25th | $80,210 | $38.56 | |
| Median | $108,900 | $52.36 | |
| 75th | $115,600 | $55.57 | |
| 90th | $143,000 | $68.73 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for microbiologists.
| San Francisco, CA | $130,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $123,900 |
| Sacramento, CA | $112,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $102,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,400 |
| Modesto, CA | $59,470 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Biological Scientist | $108,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a microbiologist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $52.36 ($108,900 a year).
Do microbiologists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $108,900 against $87,990 nationally, 24% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $108,500, so San Diego pays 0% more.
Where does San Diego rank for microbiologist pay?
12 of 71 metro areas with data.
How much does a microbiologist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $63,090 or less a year; the top 10% make $143,000 or more.
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.