Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist in the United States is $86,300 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

However, a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,201
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,200 to $94,100
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,646
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View as table View as graph 25% $80,200 10% $74,646 90% $101,201 75% $94,100 $86,300 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $94,100 $7,842 $1,810 $45
Average $86,300 $7,192 $1,660 $41
25th Percentile $80,200 $6,683 $1,542 $39
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Key Factors That Influence Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salaries

A Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $84,297
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $84,479
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,882
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $90,142
  • Expert (over 8 years): $90,375
Levels Salary
Entry Level Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist$84,297
Intermediate Level Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist$84,479
Senior Level Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist$86,882
Specialist Level Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist$90,142
Expert Level Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist$90,375
$84,297 0 yr
$84,479 < 2 yrs
$86,882 2-4 yrs
$90,142 5-8 yrs
$90,375 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $108,900
  • San Francisco: $107,700
  • Oakland: $105,400

What Skills Can Increase a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 4.75% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Molecular Biology (Mentioned in 3.48% Job Postings): Molecular biology /məˈlɛkjʊlər/ is a branch of biology that concerns the molecular basis of biological activity between biomolecules in the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between DNA, RNA, proteins and their biosynthesis, as well as the regulation of these interactions. Writing in Nature in 1961, William Astbury described molecular biology as:
  • Infection Control (Mentioned in 2.51% Job Postings): Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential, though often underrecognized and undersupported, part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control and hospital epidemiology are akin to public health practice, practiced within the confines of a particular health-care delivery system rather than directed at society as a whole. Anti-infective agents include antibiotics, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals. Infection control addresses factors related to the spread of infections within the healthcare setting (whether patient-to-patient, from patients to staff and from staff to patients, or among-staff), including prevention (via hand hygiene/hand washing, cleaning/disinfection/sterilization, vaccination, surveillance), monitoring/investigation of demonstrated or suspected spread of infection within a particular health-care setting (surveillance and outbreak investigation), and management (interruption of outbreaks). It is on this basis that the common title being adopted within health care is "infection prevention and control."
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 4.75%
Molecular Biology 3.48%
Infection Control 2.51%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's salary.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 138%.
  • Empathy: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Infection Control: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Risk Management
$205,394
138%
Empathy
$120,820
40%
Infection Control
$100,108
16%
Coordination
$97,519
13%
Integrity
$94,930
10%
Accountability
$94,067
9%
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Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $91,540. While startup companies pay approximate $78,005.

Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$78,005
Growth Stage51~500$82,345
Established501~5000$88,547
Enterprise5000+$91,540

Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$94,930$46.010%

How Education impacts a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $71,722 and $75,145).

Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.6%
High School 2.6%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 74.1%
Masters 15.5%
Doctorate 4.3%
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Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Manager of Lab Technologist Staff role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $101,300 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist

Salaries for a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $112,857 in 2023 to around $112,251 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$112,857
2024
$114,180
2025
$112,251
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $112,857
2024 $114,180
2025 $112,251
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist

Here are companies hiring for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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    Columbus, OH

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    CDL

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    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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FAQ about Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

2. Can you be a medical lab tech with a microbiology degree?

Yes, you can be a medical lab tech with a microbiology degree. Common requirements include completing a bachelor's degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science. A degree in microbiology is also acceptable. Salaries for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologists typically range from $69,000 to $82,000, with a median salary of $74,900.

3. Is microbiology in demand in USA?

Yes, microbiology is in demand in the USA. The market size is valued at $4.61 billion in 2023, and employment for microbiologists is projected to grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. Salaries for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologists range from $69,000 to $82,000, with a median of $74,900.

4. Which state pays microbiologist the most?

The highest paying cities for Microbiologists in the United States include Downey, CA, with an annual salary of approximately $82,000, followed by New York, NY, earning around $75,000. Other notable locations are Bonners Ferry, ID, and Exton, PA, with salaries ranging from $69,000 to $75,000. Overall, salaries for Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologists typically range from $69,000 to $82,000.

5. How to become a clinical lab technologist?

To become a clinical lab technologist, you need to complete an associate degree or a certificate program in medical laboratory science. This education will equip you with the necessary skills for the role. In terms of salary, you can expect to earn between $69,000 and $82,000, with a median salary of around $74,900.

6. How much do microbiologists make at labcorp?

The estimated total pay range for a Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologist is between $69K and $82K per year, with a mid-salary of $74.9K. This range reflects the base salary and potential additional compensation.

7. What technologist makes the most money?

In the field of Microbiology Clinical Lab Technologists, salaries range from a minimum of $69,000 to a maximum of $82,000, with a mid-salary of $74,900. While other tech careers may offer higher salaries, this role provides a competitive income within the healthcare sector.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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