Microbiologists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Microbiologists in the United States earn a median salary of $87,990 per year — about $42 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 21K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
Microbiologists have a high exposure to AI because a significant portion of their work involves data analysis, pattern recognition in genetic sequences, and technical reporting—all areas where AI is rapidly advancing. However, the physical requirement to conduct laboratory experiments, maintain biological cultures, and collect field samples provides a substantial buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-ARBEST VALUE | $114,840 | Below avg (92.2) | $124,584 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $112,440 | Below avg (93.3) | $120,459 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,590 | Above avg (107.8) | $114,665 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $122,350 | Above avg (108.3) | $113,009 |
| Worcester, MA | $115,660 | Average (102.5) | $112,814 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,070 | Above avg (115.6) | $112,505 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,910 | Above avg (110.4) | $112,214 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $109,320 | Average (100.1) | $109,257 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,980 | Above avg (108.5) | $106,915 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $112,470 | Above avg (106.7) | $105,437 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $114,800 | Above avg (108.9) | $105,433 |
| Peoria, IL | $93,240 | Below avg (91.2) | $102,202 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,990 | Average (102.6) | $99,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $108,900 | Above avg (111.9) | $97,330 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,620 | Above avg (103.6) | $97,128 |