The median annual wage for microbiologists was $67,550 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,810, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $125,200.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for microbiologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service
$99,280
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
74,170
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
64,640
State government, excluding education and hospitals
53,450
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state
48,810
Most microbiologists work full time and keep regular hours.
Microbiologists
Median annual wages, May 2015
Life scientists
$72,090
Microbiologists
$67,550
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics