Microbiologists

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

What a Microbiologists does

You'll study microscopic organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi to understand disease, develop vaccines, improve food safety, and create antibiotics. Your work is essential to medicine, public health, and biotechnology.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a bachelor's degree. About 4 years.

Estimated cost of that path: ~$40,000. Estimated payback: ~2 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

• Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $103,410/yr
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists — $90,150/yr
• Environmental Restoration Planners — $82,220/yr
• Industrial Ecologists — $82,220/yr
• Climate Change Policy Analysts — $82,220/yr