Microbiologists · Tennessee

Microbiologists Salary in Tennessee

Microbiologists in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $77,630 —11.8% below the national median of $87,990. That ranks TN #24 of 42 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$77,630
Median hourly
$37.32
Entry level (P10)
$52,880
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$143,220
90th percentile
Employment
210
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-11.8%
U.S. $87,990

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$52,880
$64,940
$77,630
$99,350
$52,880$77,630$143,220
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $77,630.

Employment is only 0.52× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

Highest-paying states for microbiologists

All 42 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Massachusetts$122,350$58.821,9604.42
2California$108,530$52.182,6001.17
3Maryland$108,470$52.151,5904.72
4Georgia$103,070$49.558801.48
5New Jersey$96,020$46.167901.51
6Illinois$92,050$44.261,4701.98
7Oregon$89,220$42.901700.72
8Montana$87,750$42.19801.35
9Connecticut$86,360$41.521800.88
10North Carolina$85,860$41.281,0501.75

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

How much do microbiologists make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for microbiologists in Tennessee is $77,630, or $37.32 per hour. That is 11.8% below the national median of $87,990.

What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $52,880 per year ($25.42/hour). The 25th percentile is $64,940.

How many people work as microbiologists in Tennessee?

About 210 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for microbiologists?

Tennessee ranks #24 of 42 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.52x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

Which state pays microbiologists the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median wage at $122,350 per year, followed by California ($108,530) and Maryland ($108,470).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes