Microbiology Specialist Salary in the United States
How much does a Microbiology Specialist make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Microbiology Specialist in the United States is $92,737 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.
However, a Microbiology Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,180
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,002 to $101,344
Key Factors That Influence Microbiology Specialist Salaries
A Microbiology Specialist'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 Specialist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Microbiology Specialist'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): $57,860
Early Career (1-2 years): $71,735
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $81,846
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $92,104
Expert (over 8 years): $131,860
Levels
Salary
Microbiol... Level Microbiology Specialist
$57,860
Microbiol... Level Microbiology Specialist
$71,735
Microbiol... Level Microbiology Specialist
$81,846
Microbiol... Level Microbiology Specialist
$92,104
Microbiol... Level Microbiology Specialist
$131,860
$57,8600 yr
$71,735< 2 yrs
$81,8462-4 yrs
$92,1045-8 yrs
$131,860> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Microbiology Specialist 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 Specialists.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $102,679.
California: $102,289.
Massachusetts: $100,926.
District of Columbia$102,679
California$102,289
Massachusetts$100,926
Washington$100,555
New Jersey$100,518
Alaska$100,388
Connecticut$99,108
New York$98,589
Hawaii$96,929
Rhode Island$96,150
Maryland$95,621
Minnesota$94,898
Colorado$94,620
Illinois$94,527
Oregon$94,175
Delaware$93,915
New Hampshire$93,752
Virginia$93,386
Pennsylvania$92,320
Nevada$91,782
North Dakota$91,606
Michigan$91,328
Wisconsin$91,226
Vermont$91,022
Texas$90,456
Maine$90,419
Arizona$90,363
Ohio$90,298
Georgia$89,445
Indiana$89,018
Wyoming$88,935
Utah$88,805
Iowa$88,750
Kansas$88,304
Louisiana$88,175
North Carolina$88,128
Missouri$88,110
Florida$87,748
Montana$87,553
Nebraska$87,368
Kentucky$87,266
South Carolina$86,895
Tennessee$86,663
Idaho$86,570
New Mexico$85,893
Oklahoma$85,745
Alabama$85,198
South Dakota$84,280
Arkansas$83,779
West Virginia$83,510
Mississippi$82,703
Top Paying Cities for Microbiology Specialists
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: $116,969
San Francisco: $115,689
Oakland: $113,251
San Jose, CA$116,969
San Francisco, CA$115,689
Oakland, CA$113,251
New York, NY$106,777
Paramus, NJ$105,478
Queens Village, NY$105,474
Passaic, NJ$105,386
Bergenfield, NJ$105,377
Stamford, CT$105,173
Huntington, NY$105,135
Newark, NJ$104,450
Bridgeport, CT$104,254
Vallejo, CA$104,070
New Brunswick, NJ$104,033
Petaluma, CA$103,977
Middlesex, NJ$103,801
Somerset, NJ$103,736
Santa Cruz, CA$103,615
Boston, MA$103,050
Monterey, CA$102,724
Seattle, WA$102,512
Santa Rosa, CA$102,493
Los Angeles, CA$102,465
Juneau, AK$102,224
Washington, DC$102,122
Orange, CA$101,792
Santa Ana, CA$101,547
Long Beach, CA$101,454
Anaheim, CA$101,436
Anchorage, AK$101,390
Santa Maria, CA$101,111
Everett, WA$101,093
Danbury, CT$100,766
Bremerton, WA$100,638
Tacoma, WA$100,305
New Suffolk, NY$100,303
Sacramento, CA$100,277
Santa Barbara, CA$100,175
Trenton, NJ$100,073
San Diego, CA$100,073
Brockton, MA$99,971
Fairbanks, AK$99,743
Lompoc, CA$99,507
Lowell, MA$99,432
Ventura, CA$99,414
Nashua, NH$99,396
Stockton, CA$99,386
Modesto, CA$98,709
Poughkeepsie, NY$98,505
Olympia, WA$98,329
Kennewick, WA$98,329
New Haven, CT$98,292
Lawrence, MA$97,958
Hartford, CT$97,866
Riverside, CA$97,847
New Bedford, MA$97,754
Richland, WA$97,754
Bakersfield, CA$97,624
San Bernardino, CA$97,587
New Britain, CT$97,578
Atlantic City, NJ$97,578
New London, CT$97,541
Norwich, CT$97,513
Portsmouth, NH$97,495
Boulder, CO$97,298
Portland, OR$97,170
Worcester, MA$97,161
Minneapolis, MN$96,873
Philadelphia, PA$96,743
Honolulu, HI$96,437
Saint Paul, MN$96,393
Vineland, NJ$96,372
Providence, RI$96,104
Chicago, IL$95,835
Bellingham, WA$95,723
Springfield, MA$95,649
Baltimore, MD$95,621
Chico, CA$95,389
Pittsfield, MA$95,139
Manchester, NH$94,963
Spokane, WA$94,555
Denver, CO$94,546
Albany, NY$94,110
Troy, NY$94,073
Nassau, NY$93,973
Schenectady, NY$93,878
Wilmington, DE$93,804
Burlington, VT$93,674
Salem, OR$93,637
Portland, ME$93,349
Yakima, WA$93,257
Rochester, MN$92,969
Reno, NV$92,923
Fresno, CA$92,923
Milwaukee, WI$92,839
Detroit, MI$92,746
Ann Arbor, MI$92,731
Allentown, PA$92,719
Colorado Springs, CO$92,561
Syracuse, NY$92,515
Carson City, NV$92,515
Houston, TX$92,385
Eugene, OR$92,338
Gary, IN$92,227
Springfield, OR$92,153
Bismarck, ND$92,134
Galveston, TX$92,069
Medford, OR$91,930
Fort Collins, CO$91,893
Concord, NH$91,847
Austin, TX$91,819
Mesa, AZ$91,624
Reading, PA$91,615
Phoenix, AZ$91,606
Dallas, TX$91,578
Saint Cloud, MN$91,489
Madison, WI$91,365
Utica, NY$91,114
Rochester, NY$90,966
Des Moines, IA$90,957
Raleigh, NC$90,947
Atlanta, GA$90,808
Battle Creek, MI$90,780
Salt Lake City, UT$90,753
Lancaster, PA$90,614
Harrisburg, PA$90,484
Kansas City, MO$90,391
Champaign, IL$90,372
Kansas City, KS$90,372
Fort Worth, TX$90,363
Columbus, OH$90,347
Boca Raton, FL$90,326
Pittsburgh, PA$90,289
Richmond, VA$90,252
Indianapolis, IN$90,233
Cleveland, OH$90,224
Las Vegas, NV$90,113
Cincinnati, OH$90,113
Petersburg, VA$89,974
Huntsville, AL$89,835
Lansing, MI$89,772
Lebanon, PA$89,760
Pueblo, CO$89,751
Appleton, WI$89,723
Buffalo, NY$89,686
Dayton, OH$89,658
Racine, WI$89,640
Charlotte, NC$89,631
Saint Louis, MO$89,603
York, PA$89,547
Elkhart, IN$89,547
Gastonia, NC$89,529
Billings, MT$89,507
Beaumont, TX$89,482
Lorain, OH$89,464
Benton Harbor, MI$89,445
Toledo, OH$89,426
Binghamton, NY$89,380
Rock Hill, SC$89,371
Rockford, IL$89,324
Springfield, IL$89,287
Elyria, OH$89,278
Fargo, ND$89,278
Flagstaff, AZ$89,213
Fort Lauderdale, FL$89,158
Duluth, MN$89,102
Miami, FL$89,102
Cheyenne, WY$89,037
Grand Forks, ND$89,037
Bangor, ME$88,833
Cedar Rapids, IA$88,731
Durham, NC$88,692
Louisville, KY$88,685
Grand Rapids, MI$88,666
Hialeah, FL$88,657
Casper, WY$88,527
Scranton, PA$88,416
New Orleans, LA$88,388
Virginia Beach, VA$88,379
Akron, OH$88,332
Peoria, IL$88,212
Sarasota, FL$88,193
Nashville, TN$88,128
Omaha, NE$88,128
Green Bay, WI$88,128
Baton Rouge, LA$88,082
Charleston, SC$88,063
Jamestown, NY$88,017
Davenport, IA$88,017
Tucson, AZ$87,971
Saint Petersburg, FL$87,915
Tampa, FL$87,896
Evansville, IN$87,841
Port Arthur, TX$87,841
Bradenton, FL$87,804
Santa Fe, NM$87,637
Orlando, FL$87,470
Clearwater, FL$87,442
Canton, OH$87,247
La Crosse, WI$87,247
Albuquerque, NM$87,192
Newport News, VA$87,182
High Point, NC$87,154
Ogden, UT$87,117
Corpus Christi, TX$87,043
Norfolk, VA$86,987
Laramie, WY$86,987
Rock Island, IL$86,932
Saginaw, MI$86,913
Jacksonville, FL$86,904
Salisbury, NC$86,885
Boise, ID$86,867
Moline, IL$86,821
Fort Myers, FL$86,793
Memphis, TN$86,774
Tulsa, OK$86,728
Waterloo, IA$86,672
Spartanburg, SC$86,579
Lincoln, NE$86,533
Fort Wayne, IN$86,515
Provo, UT$86,505
Cedar Falls, IA$86,394
San Antonio, TX$86,357
Greensboro, NC$86,320
South Bend, IN$86,311
Savannah, GA$86,209
Muskegon, MI$86,171
Birmingham, AL$86,162
Winston Salem, NC$86,117
Lake Charles, LA$85,893
Anderson, IN$85,875
Lexington, KY$85,847
Augusta, GA$85,819
Greenville, SC$85,819
Lima, OH$85,745
Wichita, KS$85,736
Tuscaloosa, AL$85,736
Columbia, SC$85,652
Springfield, OH$85,634
Asheville, NC$85,485
Bloomington, IN$85,420
Knoxville, TN$85,086
Shreveport, LA$85,077
Wilmington, NC$84,957
Roanoke, VA$84,957
Topeka, KS$84,790
Frankfort, KY$84,779
Oklahoma City, OK$84,715
Chillicothe, OH$84,678
Longview, TX$84,669
Melbourne, FL$84,660
Sioux Falls, SD$84,511
Mobile, AL$84,502
Terre Haute, IN$84,465
Altoona, PA$84,409
Amarillo, TX$84,344
Killeen, TX$84,317
Fayetteville, AR$84,242
Chattanooga, TN$84,215
Sioux City, IA$84,131
Idaho Falls, ID$84,113
Lynchburg, VA$84,038
Gainesville, FL$83,918
Portsmouth, OH$83,872
Little Rock, AR$83,853
Lafayette, LA$83,816
Youngstown, OH$83,816
Daytona Beach, FL$83,760
Clarksville, TN$83,751
Pensacola, FL$83,742
Temple, TX$83,735
Hopkinsville, KY$83,463
Erie, PA$83,445
Florence, SC$83,408
Charleston, WV$83,259
Great Falls, MT$83,213
Macon, GA$83,083
Tallahassee, FL$83,074
Fayetteville, NC$83,055
Waco, TX$83,037
Helena, MT$82,972
Pine Bluff, AR$82,937
Vincennes, IN$82,824
Lubbock, TX$82,786
Alamogordo, NM$82,731
Twin Falls, ID$82,647
Rapid City, SD$82,620
Jackson, MS$82,453
Huntington, WV$82,446
Greenville, MS$82,443
Parkersburg, WV$82,349
Montgomery, AL$82,332
Wichita Falls, TX$82,239
Springfield, MO$82,239
Biloxi, MS$82,193
Monroe, LA$82,100
Johnstown, PA$82,035
Sumter, SC$81,998
Columbus, GA$81,989
Pascagoula, MS$81,813
Abilene, TX$81,813
Kingsport, TN$81,572
Albany, GA$81,572
Gulfport, MS$81,544
Alexandria, LA$81,238
Fort Smith, AR$81,006
El Paso, TX$80,756
Las Cruces, NM$80,338
Harlingen, TX$80,103
Pocatello, ID$80,088
Florence, AL$79,967
Brownsville, TX$79,949
Mcallen, TX$79,754
Dothan, AL$79,624
Columbus, MS$79,073
Altus, OK$78,641
Lawton, OK$78,465
Pierre, SD$78,131
What Skills Can Increase a Microbiology Specialist'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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
9.67%
Chemistry
3.5%
Calibration
1.58%
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 Specialist'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%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Team Operations
$112,212
21%
Commitment
$99,229
7%
Oral Communication
$99,229
7%
Molecular Biology
$98,301
6%
Quality Management
$98,301
6%
Consulting
$98,301
6%
Get Latest Data
Microbiology Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Microbiology Specialist 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 Specialist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Microbiology Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Microbiology Specialist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$120,558
$58.0
30%
Biotechnology
$111,285
$54.0
20%
Chemicals
$102,011
$49.0
10%
How Education impacts a Microbiology Specialist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Microbiology Specialists 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 Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$85,643
and $90,131).
Microbiology Specialist Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Microbiology Specialist
No Diploma2.4%
High School34.1%
Associates29.3%
Bachelors34.1%
Masters29.3%
Doctorate34.1%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
2.4%
High School
34.1%
Associates
29.3%
Bachelors
34.1%
Masters
29.3%
Doctorate
34.1%
view as graph
Microbiology Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Microbiology Specialist'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 July 01, 2026
$83,002
Average$92,737/year
$101,344
$6,917
Average$7,728/month
$8,445
$1,596
Average$1,783/week
$1,949
$40
Average$45/hour
$49
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$101,344
$8,445
$1,949
$49
Average
$92,737
$7,728
$1,783
$45
25th Percentile
$83,002
$6,917
$1,596
$40
Salaries of jobs related to Microbiology Specialist
Salaries for a Microbiology Specialist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $102,555 in 2023
to around $100,133 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Microbiology Specialist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Microbiology Specialist Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$102,555
2024
$100,816
2025
$100,133
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$102,555
2024
$100,816
2025
$100,133
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Microbiology Specialist
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Microbiology Specialist
Here are companies hiring for Microbiology Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Microbiology Specialist
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Microbiology Specialist?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Microbiology Specialist 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.
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