The median annual wage of microbiologists was $65,920 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,180, and the top 10 percent earned more than $115,720.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of microbiologists in May 2010 were as follows:
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $94,960 |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 68,040 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 63,950 |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 62,350 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 49,360 |
Most microbiologists work full time and keep regular hours.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition