Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020
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 |
9.8 % |
$ 44.15 |
$ 91,840 |
3.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Microbiologists:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 21.97 |
$ 28.27 |
$ 40.58 |
$ 57.58 |
$ 75.17 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 45,690 |
$ 58,800 |
$ 84,400 |
$ 119,770 |
$ 156,360 |
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 |
6,540 |
0.87 |
$ 53.21 |
$ 110,670 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
2,560 |
0.86 |
$ 39.75 |
$ 82,670 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) |
2,120 |
0.10 |
$ 57.62 |
$ 119,860 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
1,550 |
0.10 |
$ 30.55 |
$ 63,540 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
1,430 |
0.05 |
$ 30.55 |
$ 63,530 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Microbiologists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
6,540 |
0.87 |
$ 53.21 |
$ 110,670 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
2,560 |
0.86 |
$ 39.75 |
$ 82,670 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories |
290 |
0.11 |
$ 39.59 |
$ 82,340 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
1,550 |
0.10 |
$ 30.55 |
$ 63,540 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) |
2,120 |
0.10 |
$ 57.62 |
$ 119,860 |
Top paying industries for Microbiologists:
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.
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 |
4,180 |
0.25 |
1.80 |
$ 56.07 |
$ 116,630 |
| Maryland |
1,900 |
0.75 |
5.31 |
$ 50.95 |
$ 105,980 |
| Massachusetts |
1,700 |
0.51 |
3.58 |
$ 50.56 |
$ 105,170 |
| New Jersey |
1,100 |
0.29 |
2.05 |
$ 50.62 |
$ 105,280 |
| Georgia |
940 |
0.22 |
1.54 |
$ 48.27 |
$ 100,400 |
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) |
| Maryland |
1,900 |
0.75 |
5.31 |
$ 50.95 |
$ 105,980 |
| Massachusetts |
1,700 |
0.51 |
3.58 |
$ 50.56 |
$ 105,170 |
| Montana |
140 |
0.31 |
2.21 |
$ 47.79 |
$ 99,410 |
| New Jersey |
1,100 |
0.29 |
2.05 |
$ 50.62 |
$ 105,280 |
| California |
4,180 |
0.25 |
1.80 |
$ 56.07 |
$ 116,630 |
Top paying states for Microbiologists:
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) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
1,710 |
0.56 |
3.99 |
$ 54.26 |
$ 112,850 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
1,460 |
0.56 |
3.96 |
$ 52.92 |
$ 110,080 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
1,440 |
0.16 |
1.15 |
$ 47.65 |
$ 99,120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
760 |
0.29 |
2.03 |
$ 48.77 |
$ 101,440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
730 |
0.13 |
0.89 |
$ 43.30 |
$ 90,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
530 |
0.12 |
0.86 |
$ 36.56 |
$ 76,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
520 |
0.19 |
1.35 |
$ 41.57 |
$ 86,470 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD |
350 |
0.27 |
1.92 |
$ 37.61 |
$ 78,230 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA |
340 |
0.24 |
1.73 |
$ 40.82 |
$ 84,900 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI |
330 |
0.18 |
1.26 |
$ 37.04 |
$ 77,040 |
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) |
| Ames, IA |
100 |
2.32 |
16.34 |
$ 46.90 |
$ 97,560 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA |
90 |
1.04 |
7.31 |
$ 50.33 |
$ 104,680 |
| Iowa City, IA |
60 |
0.72 |
5.06 |
$ 27.21 |
$ 56,600 |
| Worcester, MA-CT |
150 |
0.57 |
4.06 |
$ 34.26 |
$ 71,260 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
1,710 |
0.56 |
3.99 |
$ 54.26 |
$ 112,850 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
1,460 |
0.56 |
3.96 |
$ 52.92 |
$ 110,080 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO |
130 |
0.53 |
3.73 |
$ 27.74 |
$ 57,690 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT |
50 |
0.47 |
3.31 |
$ 32.87 |
$ 68,380 |
| Wilmington, NC |
50 |
0.43 |
3.03 |
$ 35.98 |
$ 74,830 |
| Madison, WI |
160 |
0.42 |
2.98 |
$ 30.37 |
$ 63,170 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Microbiologists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
1,710 |
0.56 |
3.99 |
$ 54.26 |
$ 112,850 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA |
80 |
0.08 |
0.59 |
$ 53.91 |
$ 112,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
180 |
0.16 |
1.14 |
$ 53.22 |
$ 110,690 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
1,460 |
0.56 |
3.96 |
$ 52.92 |
$ 110,080 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA |
90 |
1.04 |
7.31 |
$ 50.33 |
$ 104,680 |
| Santa Rosa, CA |
50 |
0.26 |
1.84 |
$ 49.38 |
$ 102,700 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
760 |
0.29 |
2.03 |
$ 48.77 |
$ 101,440 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
1,440 |
0.16 |
1.15 |
$ 47.65 |
$ 99,120 |
| Trenton, NJ |
50 |
0.22 |
1.52 |
$ 47.53 |
$ 98,860 |
| Richmond, VA |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 46.97 |
$ 97,700 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Microbiologists:
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Microbiologists:
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Microbiologists:
About May 2020 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 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2020 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021
United States Department of Labor
