Microbiologists
SOC 19-1022 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Microbiologists is $85,470, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $93,380, and an estimated 21,540 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +1.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -14% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 4.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Microbiologists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $85,470 | $85,470 | 21,540 |
| 2022 | $81,990 | $85,365 | 19,710 |
| 2021 | $79,260 | $89,127 | 19,430 |
| 2020 | $84,400 | $99,365 | 19,710 |
Nominal change
+1.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-14%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+4.1%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
20,700
Projected 2034
21,600
Annual Openings
1,700
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Microbiologists earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $85,470. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $126,160 | +47.6% | 2,540 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $121,470 | +42.1% | 40 |
| Georgia | $104,000 | +21.7% | 780 |
| California | $102,570 | +20% | 3,120 |
| Maryland | $102,150 | +19.5% | 1,970 |
| Minnesota | $94,320 | +10.4% | 550 |
| New Hampshire | $88,800 | +3.9% | 240 |
| North Carolina | $85,870 | +0.5% | 860 |
| Virginia | $85,670 | +0.2% | 160 |
| Illinois | $84,050 | -1.7% | 840 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$49,070
25th Pct
$62,770
Median
$85,470
75th Pct
$120,240
90th Pct
$147,470
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota | MN | 4 | $60,909 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | PA | 4 | $63,852 |
| Emory University | GA | 4 | $70,429 |
| The Ohio State University | OH | 3 | $65,000 |
| University of Michigan | MI | 3 | $61,572 |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | NJ | 3 | $75,569 |
| Albert Einstein College of Medicine | NY | 3 | $60,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh | PA | 3 | $95,000 |
| Colorado State University | CO | 3 | $64,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | MD | 2 | $119,782 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore | MD | 2 | $75,000 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | IA | 2 | $70,409 |
| Kansas State University | KS | 2 | $70,176 |
| University of Maryland College Park | MD | 2 | $49,319 |
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | NY | 2 | $86,549 |
| University of Georgia | GA | 2 | $62,600 |
| The University of Alabama at Birmingham | AL | 2 | $57,000 |
| University of Illinois | IL | 2 | $70,000 |
| Trustees of Dartmouth College | NH | 1 | $65,500 |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | DC | 1 | $57,845 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Life, Physical & Social Science
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Life, Physical & Social Science occupations →