Microbiologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for microbiologists is $87,990, or $42.30 per hour. About 18,940 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $122,350 in Massachusetts to $59,750 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 42 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $122,350 | $58.82 | 1,960 | 4.42 |
| 2 | California | $108,530 | $52.18 | 2,600 | 1.17 |
| 3 | Maryland | $108,470 | $52.15 | 1,590 | 4.72 |
| 4 | Georgia | $103,070 | $49.55 | 880 | 1.48 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $96,020 | $46.16 | 790 | 1.51 |
| 6 | Illinois | $92,050 | $44.26 | 1,470 | 1.98 |
| 7 | Oregon | $89,220 | $42.90 | 170 | 0.72 |
| 8 | Montana | $87,750 | $42.19 | 80 | 1.35 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $86,360 | $41.52 | 180 | 0.88 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $85,860 | $41.28 | 1,050 | 1.75 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $84,650 | $40.70 | 670 | 0.91 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $83,400 | $40.09 | 290 | 0.80 |
| 13 | Delaware | $82,770 | $39.79 | 190 | 3.17 |
| 14 | Colorado | $81,640 | $39.25 | 370 | 1.07 |
| 15 | New York | $81,090 | $38.99 | 1,050 | 0.89 |
| 16 | Florida | $80,930 | $38.91 | 270 | 0.22 |
| 17 | Iowa | $79,830 | $38.38 | 180 | 0.95 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $79,430 | $38.19 | 170 | 2.06 |
| 19 | Michigan | $78,680 | $37.83 | 370 | 0.68 |
| 20 | Missouri | $78,590 | $37.78 | 140 | 0.38 |
| 21 | Indiana | $77,900 | $37.45 | 150 | 0.38 |
| 22 | Virginia | $77,820 | $37.41 | 280 | 0.56 |
| 23 | Washington | $77,690 | $37.35 | 340 | 0.79 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $77,630 | $37.32 | 210 | 0.52 |
| 25 | Alaska | $76,320 | $36.69 | 30 | 0.85 |
| 26 | Utah | $72,600 | $34.90 | 120 | 0.55 |
| 27 | Ohio | $72,500 | $34.86 | 530 | 0.78 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $72,470 | $34.84 | 90 | 0.70 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $70,970 | $34.12 | 60 | 0.81 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $70,530 | $33.91 | 80 | 1.52 |
| 31 | Kansas | $70,500 | $33.90 | 120 | 0.70 |
| 32 | Arizona | $69,880 | $33.60 | 80 | 0.20 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $68,550 | $32.96 | 40 | 0.43 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $67,100 | $32.26 | 420 | 1.18 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $66,500 | $31.97 | 80 | 0.32 |
| 36 | Texas | $66,450 | $31.95 | 920 | 0.53 |
| 37 | Idaho | $65,940 | $31.70 | 70 | 0.66 |
| 38 | Alabama | $65,690 | $31.58 | 110 | 0.44 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $64,740 | $31.13 | 100 | 0.34 |
| 40 | Nevada | $64,490 | $31.01 | 110 | 0.58 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $61,690 | $29.66 | — | — |
| 42 | Arkansas | $59,750 | $28.73 | 140 | 0.88 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do microbiologists make?
The median annual wage for microbiologists in the United States is $87,990, or $42.30 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $54,670, and the top 10% earn $150,000.
How many microbiologists are employed in the U.S.?
About 18,940 people work as microbiologists nationwide.
Which state pays microbiologists the most?
Massachusetts pays the most at a median of $122,350, followed by California ($108,530) and Maryland ($108,470).
Which state pays microbiologists the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $59,750.
Where are microbiologists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maryland at 4.72×.