Microbiologists
Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- O*NET-SOC code
19-1022.00 - Preparation Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$87,990
Employment, U.S.18,940
Median hourly wage$42.30
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $54,670 | $67,100 | $87,990 | $122,350 | $150,000 |
By state (43)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 110 | $65,690 | 0.44 |
| Alaska | 30 | $76,320 | 0.85 |
| Arizona | 80 | $69,880 | 0.20 |
| Arkansas | 140 | $59,750 | 0.88 |
| California | 2,600 | $108,530 | 1.17 |
| Colorado | 370 | $81,640 | 1.07 |
| Connecticut | 180 | $86,360 | 0.88 |
| Delaware | 190 | $82,770 | 3.17 |
| Florida | 270 | $80,930 | 0.22 |
| Georgia | 880 | $103,070 | 1.48 |
| Hawaii | 60 | $70,970 | 0.81 |
| Idaho | 70 | $65,940 | 0.66 |
| Illinois | 1,470 | $92,050 | 1.98 |
| Indiana | 150 | $77,900 | 0.38 |
| Iowa | 180 | $79,830 | 0.95 |
| Kansas | 120 | $70,500 | 0.70 |
| Kentucky | 80 | $66,500 | 0.32 |
| Maine | 30 | Not available | 0.41 |
| Maryland | 1,590 | $108,470 | 4.72 |
| Massachusetts | 1,960 | $122,350 | 4.42 |
| Michigan | 370 | $78,680 | 0.68 |
| Minnesota | 290 | $83,400 | 0.80 |
| Mississippi | $61,690 | ||
| Missouri | 140 | $78,590 | 0.38 |
| Montana | 80 | $87,750 | 1.35 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $72,470 | 0.70 |
| Nevada | 110 | $64,490 | 0.58 |
| New Hampshire | 170 | $79,430 | 2.06 |
| New Jersey | 790 | $96,020 | 1.51 |
| New York | 1,050 | $81,090 | 0.89 |
| North Carolina | 1,050 | $85,860 | 1.75 |
| Ohio | 530 | $72,500 | 0.78 |
| Oregon | 170 | $89,220 | 0.72 |
| Pennsylvania | 670 | $84,650 | 0.91 |
| South Carolina | 100 | $64,740 | 0.34 |
| South Dakota | 80 | $70,530 | 1.52 |
| Tennessee | 210 | $77,630 | 0.52 |
| Texas | 920 | $66,450 | 0.53 |
| Utah | 120 | $72,600 | 0.55 |
| Virginia | 280 | $77,820 | 0.56 |
| Washington | 340 | $77,690 | 0.79 |
| West Virginia | 40 | $68,550 | 0.43 |
| Wisconsin | 420 | $67,100 | 1.18 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 5 | 0.981 |
| 2 | Biologists | 5 | 0.976 |
| 3 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 5 | 0.974 |
| 4 | Biological Technicians | 4 | 0.969 |
| 5 | Geneticists | 5 | 0.969 |
| 6 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 5 | 0.969 |
| 7 | Cytogenetic Technologists | 4 | 0.967 |
| 8 | Animal Scientists | 5 | 0.967 |
| 9 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 4 | 0.965 |
| 10 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 5 | 0.965 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Microbiologists, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Scientists and Technologists | Quality Control Analysis | 1.00 | 0.962 |
| Range Managers | Negotiation | 0.87 | 0.946 |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | Quality Control Analysis | 1.24 | 0.935 |
| Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | Operations Monitoring | 0.87 | 0.934 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Microbiologists, excluding software Microbiologists already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| R | 10 of 20 | 4.5x |
| ESRI ArcGIS software | 9 of 20 | 4.5x |
| Graphics software | 7 of 20 | 6.2x |
| Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis software | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| SAS | 9 of 20 | 3.5x |
| ClustalW | 3 of 20 | 27.7x |
| Database software | 9 of 20 | 2.5x |
| Geographic information system GIS software | 6 of 20 | 3.9x |
| STATISTICA | 3 of 20 | 11.5x |
| IBM SPSS Statistics | 6 of 20 | 3.0x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science | Essential skill | 4.62 | 5.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.12 | 5.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.50 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.88 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.62 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.62 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.88 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.38 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 4.73 | 6.14 |
| Chemistry | 3.82 | 4.82 |
| English Language | 3.65 | 4.45 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.60 | 4.64 |
| Education and Training | 3.52 | 4.71 |
| Mathematics | 3.32 | 4.23 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Administrative | 2.91 | 4.00 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.91 | 3.50 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.86 | 2.82 |
| Administration and Management | 2.82 | 3.73 |
| Production and Processing | 2.77 | 3.05 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2.62 | 2.68 |
| Communications and Media | 2.59 | 3.14 |
| Telecommunications | 2.52 | 2.50 |
| Law and Government | 2.50 | 2.77 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.38 | 2.71 |
| Food Production | 2.32 | 2.36 |
| Mechanical | 2.18 | 2.64 |
| Physics | 2.18 | 2.55 |
| Design | 2.18 | 2.32 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.09 | 2.09 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.95 | 2.05 |
| Psychology | 1.95 | 1.82 |
| Geography | 1.91 | 2.14 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.82 | 1.68 |
| Transportation | 1.81 | 1.82 |
| Building and Construction | 1.64 | 1.27 |
| Foreign Language | 1.62 | 1.23 |
| History and Archeology | 1.50 | 1.14 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.43 | 0.81 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.41 | 1.00 |
| Fine Arts | 1.27 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Written Comprehension | 4.25 | 5.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.12 | 5.12 |
| Written Expression | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Information Ordering | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Near Vision | 3.75 | 4.62 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Selective Attention | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Originality | 3.12 | 4.38 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.38 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 3.38 |
| Visualization | 3.00 | 3.38 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.88 | 3.88 |
| Number Facility | 2.88 | 3.75 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.25 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 2.75 | 3.50 |
| Control Precision | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Memorization | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.62 | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Time Sharing | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Depth Perception | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Reaction Time | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Rate Control | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Static Strength | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Response Orientation | 1.75 | 1.00 |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Stamina | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Microsoft PowerPoint in demand
- Microsoft Word in demand
- Microsoft Access hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft Windows hot
- SAP software hot
- Assistant Software for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Interpretation ASASI
- BD Biosciences CellQuest
- BD Biosciences CloneCyt
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- Bruker Optics OPUS
- BtB Software Mycobacteriology Lab
- Codon Usage Database
- ComBase
- Computer Service & Support CLS-2000 Laboratory System
- Computing Solutions LabSoft LIMS Micro
- DM2 Bills of Lading
- Database management software
- Email software
- FindTarget
- FramePlot
- Gene Finder
- Gene recognition software
- Genie Interactive
- Image capture and analysis software
- Laboratory information management system LIMS
- NetLims AutoLims
- Orchard Software Orchard Harvest LIS
All 44
- PHYLIP
- PIBWin
- Pathogen Modeling Program PMP
- PredictProtein
- Proscan
- ProtScale
- Protein Explorer
- Protein databases
- STARLIMS
- Statistical software
- TreeView
- Verity Software House ModFit LT
- WHONET
- Web browser software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 400 | 9.58 | $85,860 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 200 | 9.50 | Not available |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,810 | 5.49 | $122,350 |
| Madison, WI | 270 | 5.39 | $67,940 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 100 | 3.97 | $67,960 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 330 | 3.66 | $85,010 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,370 | 3.58 | $114,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 700 | 2.42 | $130,070 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,240 | 2.26 | $100,620 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 630 | 1.80 | $109,320 |