Microbiologists
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 19-1022.00United States
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.
- Median annual earnings
- $87,834
- Projected change
- +6.6%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 21.39K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
72.7% of the workforce
Growing to 22.81K by 2035
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Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What microbiologists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
- Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Use a variety of specialized equipment, such as electron microscopes, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.
- Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease, including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations, based upon research outcomes.
- Observe action of microorganisms upon living tissues of plants, higher animals, and other microorganisms, and on dead organic matter.
- Study growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms to understand their relationship to human, plant, and animal health.
- Study the structure and function of human, animal, and plant tissues, cells, pathogens, and toxins.
- Develop new products and procedures for sterilization, food and pharmaceutical supply preservation, or microbial contamination detection.
- Conduct chemical analyses of substances such as acids, alcohols, and enzymes.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $54,060
- 25th percentile
- $66,568
- 50th percentile
- $87,834
- 75th percentile
- $122,738
- 90th percentile
- $151,935
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $87,834 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+6.6%faster than average
202521,386 jobs
2035 projected22,806 jobs
1,420 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 72.7%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 13.6%
- Associate degree
- 9.1%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 4.6%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Microbiologists1,427 postings
- 02Quality Control Microbiologists260 postings
- 03Medical Laboratory Scientists171 postings
- 04Directors of Microbiology130 postings
- 05Scientists128 postings
- 06Microbiology Technologists96 postings
- 07Associate Scientists92 postings
- 08Microbiology Specialists88 postings
- 09Microbiology Managers82 postings
- 10Quality Control Microbiology Analysts81 postings
- 11Bacteriologists74 postings
- 12Laboratory Scientists71 postings
- 13Microbiology Analysts66 postings
- 14Research Microbiologists63 postings
- 15Clinical Microbiologists61 postings
- 16Microbiology Laboratory Managers57 postings
- 17Research Associates53 postings
- 18Microbiology Supervisors49 postings
- 19Research Technologists49 postings
- 20Quality Control Scientists48 postings
Top employers
- 01Actalent187 postings
- 02K&A Recruiting133 postings
- 03Eurofins65 postings
- 04University of Colorado System Office60 postings
- 05Parexel51 postings
- 06Thermo Fisher Scientific50 postings
- 07SGS42 postings
- 08Kelly Services38 postings
- 09Momentum Staffing Group35 postings
- 10University of Minnesota34 postings
- 11Eli Lilly28 postings
- 12Trusted Health28 postings
- 13Merck & Co.25 postings
- 14Medical College of Wisconsin24 postings
- 15Charles River Laboratories23 postings
- 16Grifols23 postings
- 17A-Tek22 postings
- 18Alcami Corporation21 postings
- 19Eagle Analytical Services20 postings
- 20Life Technologies20 postings
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