How much does a Lead Microbiologist make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Microbiologist in the United States is $92,707 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.
However, a Lead Microbiologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,414
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,666 to $101,452
Key Factors That Influence Lead Microbiologist Salaries
A Lead Microbiologist'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 Lead Microbiologist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Microbiologist'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:
How Do Lead Microbiologist Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Lead Microbiologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $102,645.
California: $102,255.
Massachusetts: $100,893.
District of Columbia$102,645
California$102,255
Massachusetts$100,893
Washington$100,522
New Jersey$100,485
Alaska$100,355
Connecticut$99,076
New York$98,556
Hawaii$96,897
Rhode Island$96,118
Maryland$95,590
Minnesota$94,867
Colorado$94,589
Illinois$94,496
Oregon$94,144
Delaware$93,884
New Hampshire$93,721
Virginia$93,356
Pennsylvania$92,290
Nevada$91,752
North Dakota$91,576
Michigan$91,298
Wisconsin$91,196
Vermont$90,992
Texas$90,426
Maine$90,389
Arizona$90,333
Ohio$90,269
Georgia$89,416
Indiana$88,989
Wyoming$88,906
Utah$88,776
Iowa$88,720
Kansas$88,275
Louisiana$88,146
North Carolina$88,099
Missouri$88,081
Florida$87,719
Montana$87,524
Nebraska$87,339
Kentucky$87,237
South Carolina$86,866
Tennessee$86,634
Idaho$86,542
New Mexico$85,865
Oklahoma$85,717
Alabama$85,170
South Dakota$84,252
Arkansas$83,751
West Virginia$83,482
Mississippi$82,676
Top Paying Cities for Lead Microbiologists
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: $116,931
San Francisco: $115,651
Oakland: $113,213
San Jose, CA$116,931
San Francisco, CA$115,651
Oakland, CA$113,213
New York, NY$106,742
Paramus, NJ$105,444
Queens Village, NY$105,439
Passaic, NJ$105,351
Bergenfield, NJ$105,343
Stamford, CT$105,139
Huntington, NY$105,101
Newark, NJ$104,416
Bridgeport, CT$104,220
Vallejo, CA$104,035
New Brunswick, NJ$103,998
Petaluma, CA$103,943
Middlesex, NJ$103,767
Somerset, NJ$103,702
Santa Cruz, CA$103,581
Boston, MA$103,016
Monterey, CA$102,690
Seattle, WA$102,478
Santa Rosa, CA$102,459
Los Angeles, CA$102,432
Juneau, AK$102,191
Washington, DC$102,089
Orange, CA$101,759
Santa Ana, CA$101,514
Long Beach, CA$101,421
Anaheim, CA$101,403
Anchorage, AK$101,356
Santa Maria, CA$101,078
Everett, WA$101,060
Danbury, CT$100,733
Bremerton, WA$100,605
Tacoma, WA$100,272
New Suffolk, NY$100,270
Sacramento, CA$100,244
Santa Barbara, CA$100,142
Trenton, NJ$100,040
San Diego, CA$100,040
Brockton, MA$99,938
Fairbanks, AK$99,711
Lompoc, CA$99,474
Lowell, MA$99,399
Ventura, CA$99,382
Nashua, NH$99,363
Stockton, CA$99,354
Modesto, CA$98,677
Poughkeepsie, NY$98,473
Olympia, WA$98,297
Kennewick, WA$98,297
New Haven, CT$98,260
Lawrence, MA$97,926
Hartford, CT$97,833
Riverside, CA$97,815
New Bedford, MA$97,722
Richland, WA$97,722
Bakersfield, CA$97,592
San Bernardino, CA$97,555
New Britain, CT$97,546
Atlantic City, NJ$97,546
New London, CT$97,509
Norwich, CT$97,481
Portsmouth, NH$97,463
Boulder, CO$97,266
Portland, OR$97,138
Worcester, MA$97,129
Minneapolis, MN$96,841
Philadelphia, PA$96,712
Honolulu, HI$96,406
Saint Paul, MN$96,361
Vineland, NJ$96,341
Providence, RI$96,072
Chicago, IL$95,803
Bellingham, WA$95,692
Springfield, MA$95,618
Baltimore, MD$95,590
Chico, CA$95,358
Pittsfield, MA$95,108
Manchester, NH$94,932
Spokane, WA$94,524
Denver, CO$94,514
Albany, NY$94,079
Troy, NY$94,042
Nassau, NY$93,942
Schenectady, NY$93,847
Wilmington, DE$93,773
Burlington, VT$93,643
Salem, OR$93,606
Portland, ME$93,319
Yakima, WA$93,226
Rochester, MN$92,938
Reno, NV$92,892
Fresno, CA$92,892
Milwaukee, WI$92,809
Detroit, MI$92,716
Ann Arbor, MI$92,700
Allentown, PA$92,688
Colorado Springs, CO$92,531
Syracuse, NY$92,484
Carson City, NV$92,484
Houston, TX$92,354
Eugene, OR$92,308
Gary, IN$92,197
Springfield, OR$92,123
Bismarck, ND$92,104
Galveston, TX$92,039
Medford, OR$91,900
Fort Collins, CO$91,863
Concord, NH$91,817
Austin, TX$91,789
Mesa, AZ$91,594
Reading, PA$91,585
Phoenix, AZ$91,576
Dallas, TX$91,548
Saint Cloud, MN$91,459
Madison, WI$91,335
Utica, NY$91,084
Rochester, NY$90,936
Des Moines, IA$90,927
Raleigh, NC$90,917
Atlanta, GA$90,778
Battle Creek, MI$90,751
Salt Lake City, UT$90,723
Lancaster, PA$90,584
Harrisburg, PA$90,454
Kansas City, MO$90,361
Champaign, IL$90,343
Kansas City, KS$90,343
Fort Worth, TX$90,333
Columbus, OH$90,318
Boca Raton, FL$90,296
Pittsburgh, PA$90,259
Richmond, VA$90,222
Indianapolis, IN$90,204
Cleveland, OH$90,194
Las Vegas, NV$90,083
Cincinnati, OH$90,083
Petersburg, VA$89,944
Huntsville, AL$89,805
Lansing, MI$89,743
Lebanon, PA$89,731
Pueblo, CO$89,722
Appleton, WI$89,694
Buffalo, NY$89,657
Dayton, OH$89,629
Racine, WI$89,610
Charlotte, NC$89,601
Saint Louis, MO$89,573
York, PA$89,518
Elkhart, IN$89,518
Gastonia, NC$89,500
Billings, MT$89,478
Beaumont, TX$89,453
Lorain, OH$89,434
Benton Harbor, MI$89,416
Toledo, OH$89,397
Binghamton, NY$89,351
Rock Hill, SC$89,341
Rockford, IL$89,295
Springfield, IL$89,258
Elyria, OH$89,249
Fargo, ND$89,249
Flagstaff, AZ$89,184
Fort Lauderdale, FL$89,128
Duluth, MN$89,073
Miami, FL$89,073
Cheyenne, WY$89,008
Grand Forks, ND$89,008
Bangor, ME$88,804
Cedar Rapids, IA$88,702
Durham, NC$88,663
Louisville, KY$88,655
Grand Rapids, MI$88,637
Hialeah, FL$88,628
Casper, WY$88,498
Scranton, PA$88,387
New Orleans, LA$88,359
Virginia Beach, VA$88,349
Akron, OH$88,303
Peoria, IL$88,183
Sarasota, FL$88,164
Nashville, TN$88,099
Omaha, NE$88,099
Green Bay, WI$88,099
Baton Rouge, LA$88,053
Charleston, SC$88,034
Jamestown, NY$87,988
Davenport, IA$87,988
Tucson, AZ$87,942
Saint Petersburg, FL$87,886
Tampa, FL$87,867
Evansville, IN$87,812
Port Arthur, TX$87,812
Bradenton, FL$87,775
Santa Fe, NM$87,608
Orlando, FL$87,441
Clearwater, FL$87,413
Canton, OH$87,218
La Crosse, WI$87,218
Albuquerque, NM$87,163
Newport News, VA$87,154
High Point, NC$87,126
Ogden, UT$87,089
Corpus Christi, TX$87,015
Norfolk, VA$86,959
Laramie, WY$86,959
Rock Island, IL$86,903
Saginaw, MI$86,885
Jacksonville, FL$86,875
Salisbury, NC$86,857
Boise, ID$86,838
Moline, IL$86,792
Fort Myers, FL$86,764
Memphis, TN$86,746
Tulsa, OK$86,699
Waterloo, IA$86,644
Spartanburg, SC$86,551
Lincoln, NE$86,505
Fort Wayne, IN$86,486
Provo, UT$86,477
Cedar Falls, IA$86,366
San Antonio, TX$86,328
Greensboro, NC$86,291
South Bend, IN$86,282
Savannah, GA$86,180
Muskegon, MI$86,143
Birmingham, AL$86,134
Winston Salem, NC$86,088
Lake Charles, LA$85,865
Anderson, IN$85,846
Lexington, KY$85,819
Augusta, GA$85,791
Greenville, SC$85,791
Lima, OH$85,717
Wichita, KS$85,707
Tuscaloosa, AL$85,707
Columbia, SC$85,624
Springfield, OH$85,605
Asheville, NC$85,457
Bloomington, IN$85,392
Knoxville, TN$85,058
Shreveport, LA$85,049
Wilmington, NC$84,929
Roanoke, VA$84,929
Topeka, KS$84,762
Frankfort, KY$84,752
Oklahoma City, OK$84,688
Chillicothe, OH$84,650
Longview, TX$84,641
Melbourne, FL$84,632
Sioux Falls, SD$84,484
Mobile, AL$84,474
Terre Haute, IN$84,437
Altoona, PA$84,382
Amarillo, TX$84,317
Killeen, TX$84,289
Fayetteville, AR$84,215
Chattanooga, TN$84,187
Sioux City, IA$84,104
Idaho Falls, ID$84,085
Lynchburg, VA$84,011
Gainesville, FL$83,890
Portsmouth, OH$83,844
Little Rock, AR$83,825
Lafayette, LA$83,788
Youngstown, OH$83,788
Daytona Beach, FL$83,733
Clarksville, TN$83,723
Pensacola, FL$83,714
Temple, TX$83,708
Hopkinsville, KY$83,436
Erie, PA$83,417
Florence, SC$83,380
Charleston, WV$83,232
Great Falls, MT$83,186
Macon, GA$83,056
Tallahassee, FL$83,047
Fayetteville, NC$83,028
Waco, TX$83,010
Helena, MT$82,945
Pine Bluff, AR$82,909
Vincennes, IN$82,796
Lubbock, TX$82,759
Alamogordo, NM$82,704
Twin Falls, ID$82,620
Rapid City, SD$82,592
Jackson, MS$82,426
Huntington, WV$82,419
Greenville, MS$82,416
Parkersburg, WV$82,322
Montgomery, AL$82,305
Wichita Falls, TX$82,212
Springfield, MO$82,212
Biloxi, MS$82,166
Monroe, LA$82,073
Johnstown, PA$82,008
Sumter, SC$81,971
Columbus, GA$81,962
Pascagoula, MS$81,786
Abilene, TX$81,786
Kingsport, TN$81,545
Albany, GA$81,545
Gulfport, MS$81,517
Alexandria, LA$81,211
Fort Smith, AR$80,979
El Paso, TX$80,729
Las Cruces, NM$80,312
Harlingen, TX$80,076
Pocatello, ID$80,062
Florence, AL$79,941
Brownsville, TX$79,922
Mcallen, TX$79,728
Dothan, AL$79,598
Columbus, MS$79,047
Altus, OK$78,615
Lawton, OK$78,439
Pierre, SD$78,105
What Skills Can Increase a Lead Microbiologist's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 9.67% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Chemistry (Mentioned in 3.5% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
Calibration (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
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 Lead Microbiologist's salary.
Team Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Lead Microbiologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Lead Microbiologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Lead Microbiologist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Lead Microbiologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Lead Microbiologist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$120,519
$58.0
30%
Biotechnology
$111,248
$53.0
20%
Chemicals
$101,977
$49.0
10%
How Education impacts a Lead Microbiologist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Lead Microbiologists 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 Lead Microbiologist with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$85,643
and $90,131).
Lead Microbiologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Lead Microbiologist'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$81,666
Average$92,707/year
$101,452
$6,806
Average$7,726/month
$8,454
$1,571
Average$1,783/week
$1,951
$39
Average$45/hour
$49
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$101,452
$8,454
$1,951
$49
Average
$92,707
$7,726
$1,783
$45
25th Percentile
$81,666
$6,806
$1,571
$39
Salaries of Jobs related to Lead Microbiologist
Microbiologist, Lead/Master$133,900
Microbiologist V$133,860
Microbiologist, Specialist$93,500
Microbiologist IV$93,483
Microbiologist, Senior$83,100
Microbiologist III$83,088
Microbiologist$82,913
Microbiologist II$72,843
Entry Microbiologist$58,800
Microbiologist, Associate$58,740
Microbiologist I$58,738
Salary Trends for Lead Microbiologist
Salaries for a Lead Microbiologist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $105,814 in 2023
to around $103,315 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Lead Microbiologist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Lead Microbiologist Over Time
$???
$105,814
$104,020
$103,315
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$105,814
2024
$104,020
2025
$103,315
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Lead Microbiologist
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Lead Microbiologist
Here are companies hiring for Lead Microbiologist and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Lead Microbiologist
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Microbiologist?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Microbiologist roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
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.
