Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

19-1022 Microbiologists

Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.


National estimates for Microbiologists
Industry profile for Microbiologists
Geographic profile for Microbiologists

National estimates for Microbiologists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Microbiologists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
19,710 3.3 % $ 42.77 $ 88,950 1.1 %

Percentile wage estimates for Microbiologists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 22.24 $ 28.42 $ 39.42 $ 51.98 $ 65.69
Annual Wage (2) $ 46,270 $ 59,110 $ 81,990 $ 108,120 $ 136,630


Industry profile for Microbiologists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Microbiologists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Microbiologists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Microbiologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,690 0.65 $ 52.32 $ 108,820
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 2,960 0.89 $ 36.65 $ 76,230
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,060 0.10 $ 60.06 $ 124,920
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,650 0.10 $ 27.99 $ 58,210
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,280 0.06 $ 32.27 $ 67,110

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Microbiologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 2,960 0.89 $ 36.65 $ 76,230
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,690 0.65 $ 52.32 $ 108,820
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 590 0.19 $ 38.70 $ 80,490
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,650 0.10 $ 27.99 $ 58,210
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,060 0.10 $ 60.06 $ 124,920

Top paying industries for Microbiologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 2,060 0.10 $ 60.06 $ 124,920
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,690 0.65 $ 52.32 $ 108,820
Computer Systems Design and Related Services (8) (8) $ 50.17 $ 104,350
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 170 0.04 $ 46.44 $ 96,600
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 70 0.01 $ 45.13 $ 93,880


Geographic profile for Microbiologists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Microbiologists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Microbiologists, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of microbiologists by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Microbiologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 2,930 0.17 1.25 $ 50.51 $ 105,060
Massachusetts 2,570 0.72 5.40 $ 56.24 $ 116,970
Maryland 1,810 0.69 5.15 $ 50.61 $ 105,280
New Jersey 1,410 0.34 2.57 $ 45.38 $ 94,390
New York 1,040 0.11 0.86 $ 39.17 $ 81,480


Map of location quotient of microbiologists by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Microbiologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts 2,570 0.72 5.40 $ 56.24 $ 116,970
Maryland 1,810 0.69 5.15 $ 50.61 $ 105,280
New Jersey 1,410 0.34 2.57 $ 45.38 $ 94,390
New Hampshire 200 0.30 2.26 $ 39.38 $ 81,910
Delaware 130 0.29 2.21 $ 36.96 $ 76,870


Map of annual mean wages of microbiologists by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Microbiologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts 2,570 0.72 5.40 $ 56.24 $ 116,970
District of Columbia 40 0.06 0.42 $ 51.04 $ 106,160
Maryland 1,810 0.69 5.15 $ 50.61 $ 105,280
California 2,930 0.17 1.25 $ 50.51 $ 105,060
Georgia 690 0.15 1.12 $ 49.48 $ 102,910



Map of employment of microbiologists by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Microbiologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 2,360 0.87 6.54 $ 57.44 $ 119,480
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,930 0.21 1.57 $ 43.44 $ 90,350
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,470 0.49 3.65 $ 54.18 $ 112,690
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 940 0.39 2.94 $ 59.33 $ 123,410
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 640 0.43 3.24 $ 46.92 $ 97,600
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 590 0.10 0.73 $ 44.03 $ 91,590
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 590 0.21 1.60 $ 35.19 $ 73,190
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 570 0.13 0.96 $ 33.61 $ 69,920
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 550 0.20 1.52 $ 49.92 $ 103,830
Madison, WI 520 1.34 10.07 $ 35.80 $ 74,460


Map of location quotient of microbiologists by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Microbiologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Madison, WI 520 1.34 10.07 $ 35.80 $ 74,460
Fort Collins, CO 180 1.06 7.97 $ 34.43 $ 71,620
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 2,360 0.87 6.54 $ 57.44 $ 119,480
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 190 0.57 4.26 $ 45.09 $ 93,780
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,470 0.49 3.65 $ 54.18 $ 112,690
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 640 0.43 3.24 $ 46.92 $ 97,600
Trenton, NJ 100 0.43 3.23 $ 44.04 $ 91,600
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 60 0.41 3.09 $ 34.05 $ 70,820
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 940 0.39 2.94 $ 59.33 $ 123,410
Worcester, MA-CT 100 0.34 2.54 $ 42.88 $ 89,200


Map of annual mean wages of microbiologists by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Microbiologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 940 0.39 2.94 $ 59.33 $ 123,410
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 2,360 0.87 6.54 $ 57.44 $ 119,480
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,470 0.49 3.65 $ 54.18 $ 112,690
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 210 0.19 1.41 $ 54.11 $ 112,550
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 110 0.11 0.83 $ 54.02 $ 112,350
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 550 0.20 1.52 $ 49.92 $ 103,830
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 40 0.12 0.92 $ 47.30 $ 98,390
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 640 0.43 3.24 $ 46.92 $ 97,600
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 70 0.07 0.54 $ 45.49 $ 94,620
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 190 0.57 4.26 $ 45.09 $ 93,780

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Microbiologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 120 1.17 8.79 $ 41.70 $ 86,730
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 40 0.26 1.92 $ 27.72 $ 57,650
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 0.64 $ 28.16 $ 58,570

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Microbiologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 120 1.17 8.79 $ 41.70 $ 86,730
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 40 0.26 1.92 $ 27.72 $ 57,650
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 0.64 $ 28.16 $ 58,570

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Microbiologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 120 1.17 8.79 $ 41.70 $ 86,730
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 30 0.09 0.64 $ 28.16 $ 58,570
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 40 0.26 1.92 $ 27.72 $ 57,650


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023