Microbiologists Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 2,600 employed
Annual Mean
$114,790
$55.19/hr
Annual Median
$108,530
$52.18/hr
Bottom 10%
$62,440
$30.02/hr
Top 10%
$183,420
$88.18/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$114,790
Difference
+17.6% vs US avg
US National
$97,600
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $62,440 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $80,060 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $108,530 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $141,360 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $183,420 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$62K
25th
$80K
Median
$109K
75th
$141K
90th
$183K
California has a moderate number of Microbiologists positions (approximately 2,600), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In California, Microbiologists salaries range from $62,440 at the 10th percentile to $183,420 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $120,980 (111% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Microbiologists wages
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$135,860
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$126,450
per year
Vallejo, CA
$125,010
per year
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$124,300
per year
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$123,550
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$103,650
per year
Modesto, CA
$102,370
per year
Fresno, CA
$101,640
per year
How Microbiologists Compares in California
The average Microbiologists salary of $114,790 in California ranks above the national average of $97,600. There are approximately 2,600 Microbiologistss employed in California.
Psychiatrists$315,380
Radiologists$309,990
Related Occupations
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
$103,410
US median/yr
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
$90,150
US median/yr
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$82,220
US median/yr
Chemists
$91,240
US median/yr
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$100,580
US median/yr
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
$62,280
US median/yr
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.