Microbiology Scientist Salary in the United States
How much does a Microbiology Scientist make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Microbiology Scientist in the United States is $93,170 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.
However, a Microbiology Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,812
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,420 to $101,881
Key Factors That Influence Microbiology Scientist Salaries
A Microbiology Scientist'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 Scientist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Microbiology Scientist'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 Microbiology Scientist 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 Microbiology Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $103,158.
California: $102,767.
Massachusetts: $101,397.
District of Columbia$103,158
California$102,767
Massachusetts$101,397
Washington$101,024
New Jersey$100,987
Alaska$100,857
Connecticut$99,571
New York$99,049
Hawaii$97,381
Rhode Island$96,599
Maryland$96,068
Minnesota$95,341
Colorado$95,061
Illinois$94,968
Oregon$94,614
Delaware$94,353
New Hampshire$94,189
Virginia$93,822
Pennsylvania$92,751
Nevada$92,210
North Dakota$92,033
Michigan$91,754
Wisconsin$91,651
Vermont$91,446
Texas$90,878
Maine$90,841
Arizona$90,785
Ohio$90,720
Georgia$89,862
Indiana$89,434
Wyoming$89,350
Utah$89,220
Iowa$89,164
Kansas$88,716
Louisiana$88,586
North Carolina$88,539
Missouri$88,521
Florida$88,157
Montana$87,962
Nebraska$87,775
Kentucky$87,673
South Carolina$87,300
Tennessee$87,067
Idaho$86,974
New Mexico$86,294
Oklahoma$86,145
Alabama$85,595
South Dakota$84,673
Arkansas$84,170
West Virginia$83,900
Mississippi$83,089
Top Paying Cities for Microbiology Scientists
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: $117,515
San Francisco: $116,229
Oakland: $113,779
San Jose, CA$117,515
San Francisco, CA$116,229
Oakland, CA$113,779
New York, NY$107,275
Paramus, NJ$105,971
Queens Village, NY$105,966
Passaic, NJ$105,877
Bergenfield, NJ$105,869
Stamford, CT$105,664
Huntington, NY$105,626
Newark, NJ$104,937
Bridgeport, CT$104,741
Vallejo, CA$104,555
New Brunswick, NJ$104,518
Petaluma, CA$104,462
Middlesex, NJ$104,285
Somerset, NJ$104,220
Santa Cruz, CA$104,099
Boston, MA$103,531
Monterey, CA$103,203
Seattle, WA$102,990
Santa Rosa, CA$102,971
Los Angeles, CA$102,944
Juneau, AK$102,701
Washington, DC$102,599
Orange, CA$102,267
Santa Ana, CA$102,021
Long Beach, CA$101,928
Anaheim, CA$101,909
Anchorage, AK$101,863
Santa Maria, CA$101,583
Everett, WA$101,565
Danbury, CT$101,237
Bremerton, WA$101,108
Tacoma, WA$100,773
New Suffolk, NY$100,771
Sacramento, CA$100,745
Santa Barbara, CA$100,642
Trenton, NJ$100,540
San Diego, CA$100,540
Brockton, MA$100,437
Fairbanks, AK$100,209
Lompoc, CA$99,971
Lowell, MA$99,896
Ventura, CA$99,878
Nashua, NH$99,860
Stockton, CA$99,850
Modesto, CA$99,170
Poughkeepsie, NY$98,965
Olympia, WA$98,788
Kennewick, WA$98,788
New Haven, CT$98,751
Lawrence, MA$98,415
Hartford, CT$98,322
Riverside, CA$98,304
New Bedford, MA$98,210
Richland, WA$98,210
Bakersfield, CA$98,080
San Bernardino, CA$98,043
New Britain, CT$98,033
Atlantic City, NJ$98,033
New London, CT$97,996
Norwich, CT$97,968
Portsmouth, NH$97,950
Boulder, CO$97,752
Portland, OR$97,624
Worcester, MA$97,614
Minneapolis, MN$97,325
Philadelphia, PA$97,195
Honolulu, HI$96,887
Saint Paul, MN$96,843
Vineland, NJ$96,822
Providence, RI$96,552
Chicago, IL$96,282
Bellingham, WA$96,170
Springfield, MA$96,096
Baltimore, MD$96,068
Chico, CA$95,835
Pittsfield, MA$95,583
Manchester, NH$95,406
Spokane, WA$94,996
Denver, CO$94,987
Albany, NY$94,549
Troy, NY$94,512
Nassau, NY$94,412
Schenectady, NY$94,316
Wilmington, DE$94,241
Burlington, VT$94,111
Salem, OR$94,074
Portland, ME$93,785
Yakima, WA$93,692
Rochester, MN$93,403
Reno, NV$93,356
Fresno, CA$93,356
Milwaukee, WI$93,272
Detroit, MI$93,179
Ann Arbor, MI$93,163
Allentown, PA$93,151
Colorado Springs, CO$92,993
Syracuse, NY$92,946
Carson City, NV$92,946
Houston, TX$92,816
Eugene, OR$92,769
Gary, IN$92,658
Springfield, OR$92,583
Bismarck, ND$92,564
Galveston, TX$92,499
Medford, OR$92,359
Fort Collins, CO$92,322
Concord, NH$92,276
Austin, TX$92,248
Mesa, AZ$92,052
Reading, PA$92,043
Phoenix, AZ$92,033
Dallas, TX$92,005
Saint Cloud, MN$91,916
Madison, WI$91,791
Utica, NY$91,540
Rochester, NY$91,390
Des Moines, IA$91,381
Raleigh, NC$91,372
Atlanta, GA$91,232
Battle Creek, MI$91,204
Salt Lake City, UT$91,176
Lancaster, PA$91,036
Harrisburg, PA$90,906
Kansas City, MO$90,813
Champaign, IL$90,794
Kansas City, KS$90,794
Fort Worth, TX$90,785
Columbus, OH$90,769
Boca Raton, FL$90,748
Pittsburgh, PA$90,710
Richmond, VA$90,673
Indianapolis, IN$90,654
Cleveland, OH$90,645
Las Vegas, NV$90,533
Cincinnati, OH$90,533
Petersburg, VA$90,394
Huntsville, AL$90,254
Lansing, MI$90,191
Lebanon, PA$90,179
Pueblo, CO$90,170
Appleton, WI$90,142
Buffalo, NY$90,105
Dayton, OH$90,077
Racine, WI$90,058
Charlotte, NC$90,049
Saint Louis, MO$90,021
York, PA$89,965
Elkhart, IN$89,965
Gastonia, NC$89,947
Billings, MT$89,925
Beaumont, TX$89,900
Lorain, OH$89,881
Benton Harbor, MI$89,862
Toledo, OH$89,844
Binghamton, NY$89,797
Rock Hill, SC$89,788
Rockford, IL$89,741
Springfield, IL$89,704
Elyria, OH$89,695
Fargo, ND$89,695
Flagstaff, AZ$89,630
Fort Lauderdale, FL$89,574
Duluth, MN$89,518
Miami, FL$89,518
Cheyenne, WY$89,453
Grand Forks, ND$89,453
Bangor, ME$89,248
Cedar Rapids, IA$89,145
Durham, NC$89,106
Louisville, KY$89,098
Grand Rapids, MI$89,080
Hialeah, FL$89,071
Casper, WY$88,940
Scranton, PA$88,828
New Orleans, LA$88,800
Virginia Beach, VA$88,791
Akron, OH$88,744
Peoria, IL$88,623
Sarasota, FL$88,605
Nashville, TN$88,539
Omaha, NE$88,539
Green Bay, WI$88,539
Baton Rouge, LA$88,493
Charleston, SC$88,474
Jamestown, NY$88,428
Davenport, IA$88,428
Tucson, AZ$88,381
Saint Petersburg, FL$88,325
Tampa, FL$88,307
Evansville, IN$88,251
Port Arthur, TX$88,251
Bradenton, FL$88,213
Santa Fe, NM$88,046
Orlando, FL$87,878
Clearwater, FL$87,850
Canton, OH$87,654
La Crosse, WI$87,654
Albuquerque, NM$87,598
Newport News, VA$87,589
High Point, NC$87,561
Ogden, UT$87,524
Corpus Christi, TX$87,449
Norfolk, VA$87,393
Laramie, WY$87,393
Rock Island, IL$87,338
Saginaw, MI$87,319
Jacksonville, FL$87,310
Salisbury, NC$87,291
Boise, ID$87,272
Moline, IL$87,226
Fort Myers, FL$87,198
Memphis, TN$87,179
Tulsa, OK$87,133
Waterloo, IA$87,077
Spartanburg, SC$86,984
Lincoln, NE$86,937
Fort Wayne, IN$86,918
Provo, UT$86,909
Cedar Falls, IA$86,797
San Antonio, TX$86,760
Greensboro, NC$86,723
South Bend, IN$86,713
Savannah, GA$86,611
Muskegon, MI$86,574
Birmingham, AL$86,564
Winston Salem, NC$86,519
Lake Charles, LA$86,294
Anderson, IN$86,275
Lexington, KY$86,247
Augusta, GA$86,220
Greenville, SC$86,220
Lima, OH$86,145
Wichita, KS$86,136
Tuscaloosa, AL$86,136
Columbia, SC$86,052
Springfield, OH$86,033
Asheville, NC$85,884
Bloomington, IN$85,819
Knoxville, TN$85,483
Shreveport, LA$85,474
Wilmington, NC$85,353
Roanoke, VA$85,353
Topeka, KS$85,185
Frankfort, KY$85,175
Oklahoma City, OK$85,111
Chillicothe, OH$85,074
Longview, TX$85,064
Melbourne, FL$85,055
Sioux Falls, SD$84,906
Mobile, AL$84,897
Terre Haute, IN$84,859
Altoona, PA$84,803
Amarillo, TX$84,738
Killeen, TX$84,710
Fayetteville, AR$84,636
Chattanooga, TN$84,608
Sioux City, IA$84,524
Idaho Falls, ID$84,505
Lynchburg, VA$84,431
Gainesville, FL$84,310
Portsmouth, OH$84,263
Little Rock, AR$84,244
Lafayette, LA$84,207
Youngstown, OH$84,207
Daytona Beach, FL$84,151
Clarksville, TN$84,142
Pensacola, FL$84,133
Temple, TX$84,126
Hopkinsville, KY$83,853
Erie, PA$83,834
Florence, SC$83,797
Charleston, WV$83,648
Great Falls, MT$83,601
Macon, GA$83,471
Tallahassee, FL$83,462
Fayetteville, NC$83,443
Waco, TX$83,424
Helena, MT$83,359
Pine Bluff, AR$83,324
Vincennes, IN$83,210
Lubbock, TX$83,173
Alamogordo, NM$83,117
Twin Falls, ID$83,033
Rapid City, SD$83,005
Jackson, MS$82,837
Huntington, WV$82,831
Greenville, MS$82,828
Parkersburg, WV$82,733
Montgomery, AL$82,716
Wichita Falls, TX$82,623
Springfield, MO$82,623
Biloxi, MS$82,577
Monroe, LA$82,483
Johnstown, PA$82,418
Sumter, SC$82,381
Columbus, GA$82,372
Pascagoula, MS$82,195
Abilene, TX$82,195
Kingsport, TN$81,952
Albany, GA$81,952
Gulfport, MS$81,924
Alexandria, LA$81,617
Fort Smith, AR$81,384
El Paso, TX$81,132
Las Cruces, NM$80,713
Harlingen, TX$80,477
Pocatello, ID$80,462
Florence, AL$80,340
Brownsville, TX$80,322
Mcallen, TX$80,126
Dothan, AL$79,996
Columbus, MS$79,442
Altus, OK$79,008
Lawton, OK$78,831
Pierre, SD$78,496
What Skills Can Increase a Microbiology Scientist'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 Microbiology Scientist'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%.
Microbiology Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Microbiology Scientist 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, Microbiology Scientist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Microbiology Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Microbiology Scientist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$121,121
$58.0
30%
Biotechnology
$111,804
$54.0
20%
Chemicals
$102,487
$49.0
10%
How Education impacts a Microbiology Scientist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Microbiology Scientists 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 Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$85,643
and $90,131).
Microbiology Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Microbiology Scientist'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
$83,420
Average$93,170/year
$101,881
$6,952
Average$7,764/month
$8,490
$1,604
Average$1,792/week
$1,959
$40
Average$45/hour
$49
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$101,881
$8,490
$1,959
$49
Average
$93,170
$7,764
$1,792
$45
25th Percentile
$83,420
$6,952
$1,604
$40
Salaries of Jobs related to Microbiology Scientist
Microbiology Technologist$97,295
Microbiology Manager$95,476
Microbiology Specialist$92,718
Microscopist Microbiology$86,319
Microbiology Technician$81,681
Microbiology Tech$79,552
Microbiology Supervisor$75,240
Microbiology Analyst$74,281
Professor Of Microbiology$71,230
Microbiology Assistant$59,376
QC Microbiology$48,159
Salary Trends for Microbiology Scientist
Salaries for a Microbiology Scientist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $103,055 in 2023
to around $100,621 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Microbiology Scientist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Microbiology Scientist Over Time
$???
$103,055
$101,307
$100,621
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$103,055
2024
$101,307
2025
$100,621
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Microbiology Scientist
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Microbiology Scientist
Here are companies hiring for Microbiology Scientist 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 Microbiology Scientist
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Microbiology Scientist?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Microbiology Scientist 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.
