Microbiologist salary

At a glance

• Mostly Level I (entry-level). 32% of Microbiologist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
• Top filer: Emory University. 17 filings (3% of the total), median $69,888.
• Median up 24% since FY2020. From $60,528 in FY2020 to $75,254 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.

Microbiologist H-1B salary overview

Employers filed 556 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Microbiologist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-1022, Microbiologists). The median base salary is $75,000, 39% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $65,000 and $89,250. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 32% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (54), and Emory University is the employer that files the most (17).

Top employers for Microbiologist

Emory University17 filings · 3%$69,888 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey11 filings · 2%$73,161 Yale University11 filings · 2%$75,000 Albert Einstein College of Medicine10 filings · 2%$76,155 The University of Chicago10 filings · 2%$72,024 University of Wisconsin System10 filings · 2%$63,534

Employers with the most Microbiologist filings. Bar: share of all Microbiologist filings. Figure: median base salary.

Pay by level

Microbiologist pay by city

Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.

What a Microbiologist does

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.

Typical tasks

• Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
• 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.
• Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
• 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.

Preparation

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

O*NET occupation: Microbiologists (19-1022.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers

Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Microbiologists), the median annual wage was $87,990 in May 2025, with 18,940 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $75,000, 15% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.

Salary details

Salary range