Microbiologists
Overview
Introduction
Microbiologists are scientists who study living things that cannot be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and viruses, as well as human and animal cells. They examine the effects these microorganisms and infectious agents have on people, animals, plants, and the environment. They are interested in learning about microorganisms that cause diseases, how microorganisms can be used to treat and prevent diseases, and ways microorganisms can be used in developing products. Microbiologists are a subspecialty of bi...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Microbiologists had median annual earnings of $71,650 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries ranged from less than $41,820 to more than $133,550 annually. Average earnings of microbiologists employed by federal government agencies were $106,440.
In government, academic, and private industry positions, microbiologists receive the standard benefits, such as...
Work Environment
Microbiologists working independently or as part of a team collect samples either indoors or outdoors, depending on where the subject (e.g., human, animal, plant, natural resource) is located. Microbiologists who collect samples outdoors will encounter varied weather and terrain. Analysis is generally carried out indoors in a sterile setting, usually a laboratory or an office. Because microbiol...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for microbiologists will grow by 5 percent, about as fast as the average for all careers, through 2028. Microbiologists will continue to be needed to take recent research and knowledge, such as the isolation and identification of genes and biological drugs that are produced with the aid of microorganisms, to the next level. The focus o...
