Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Microbiologists study microscopic organisms and related biological processes, drawing on a strong foundation in science, critical and analytical thinking, and mathematics. This career currently employs about 21,000 people nationwide and typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree. The national median salary of $87,330 indicates solid earning potential, with some states and metro areas offering substantially higher pay. Microbiologists can find opportunities in a range of regions, from large metro areas like New York-Newark-Jersey City and Boston-Cambridge-Newton to West Coast hubs such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont. Projected employment growth of 4.1% and about 2,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities over time. Success in this field often depends on being detail oriented, adaptable, and comfortable with computers and information technology, as well as having strong writing and reading skills for documentation and communication. Leadership, project management, and creativity and innovation can also help microbiologists advance and take on more complex work and responsibility.
Microbiologists earn a national median annual salary of $87,330, with earning potential varying considerably by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts shows a median salary of $122,350 and California $108,530, both notably higher than the national median. New York, Colorado, and Washington report median salaries of $81,090, $81,640, and $77,690, respectively. At the metro level, salary differences become even more pronounced. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a median salary of $130,070, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara reports $123,910. Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria also offer high median pay at $122,350 and $114,800, respectively. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro’s median salary of $85,710 sits close to the national figure. These ranges suggest that microbiologists who are geographically flexible, particularly toward certain California and Massachusetts metros, may access higher salary levels, though they should weigh compensation against other personal and professional considerations.
Microbiologists have a national employment base of about 21,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 4.1%. This same 4.1% growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas listed, indicating consistent projected expansion in multiple regions. Nationally, the field is expected to generate approximately 2,000 annual openings, which reflects both new positions and replacement needs. Taken together, these figures point to a moderate but steady outlook, with ongoing demand rather than rapid swings in employment. Because microbiology roles require a blend of science, critical and analytical thinking, and detail orientation, individuals who develop these capabilities and meet the typical education standard of a bachelor’s degree may be positioned to compete for these openings. The combination of existing employment, projected growth, and recurring annual openings suggests that job seekers can explore opportunities in various locations while planning for long-term participation in the labor market for microbiologists.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for microbiologists. At the state level, California and Massachusetts stand out with the highest opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.87 and median salaries of $108,530 and $122,350, respectively. New York also has a strong opportunity score of 65.78, with a median salary of $81,090. Colorado and Washington have somewhat lower opportunity scores, at 56.97 and 56.29, and median salaries in the low $80,000s and high $70,000s. Employment levels vary: California employs about 2,600 microbiologists, Massachusetts 1,960, and New York 1,050. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and New York-Newark-Jersey City show the highest opportunity scores, 77.42 and 77.27, respectively. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also post strong scores. Salary differences are notable: the San Francisco and San Jose metros exceed $120,000 in median pay, while New York-Newark-Jersey City is closer to the national median. These details allow candidates to weigh salary, opportunity score, and local employment size when targeting regions.
The typical education for microbiologists is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the scientific and quantitative foundation needed for the role, including science and mathematics. Beyond formal education, the top skills associated with this career help define what students and job seekers should develop. Being detail oriented and adaptable is important, as is competence with computers and information technology. Strong critical and analytical thinking underpins scientific problem-solving, while writing and reading skills are essential for documenting findings and understanding technical materials. Project management and leadership skills support organizing work, coordinating with others, and potentially guiding projects or teams. Creativity and innovation contribute to approaching scientific questions and challenges in new ways. Together, these skills suggest that aspiring microbiologists benefit from a combination of technical, analytical, and interpersonal capabilities built on a bachelor’s-level academic background in a relevant field.
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