Occupation · SOC 19-1022
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
94 mapped
Core skills
ScienceReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingSpeakingActive LearningActive ListeningJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
BiologyChemistryEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareMedical softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and phyMonitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or toPerform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection and interpret the results.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Bacterial and fungal cultures — isolate and maintain in prescribed laboratory media under direct supervision, controlling basic parameters such as temperature and moisture.Microscopy techniques — apply standard protocols to examine and identify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens with guidance from a senior scientist.Laboratory equipment — operate basic instruments including light microscopes and pipetting devices following established safety and handling procedures in a regulated lab setting.Water and food samples — assist in collecting and processing environmental specimens for microbial testing according to written standard operating procedures.Scientific literature — read and summarize peer-reviewed articles relevant to assigned microbiology projects under the direction of a supervising researcher.Laboratory data — record observations and raw test results accurately in laboratory notebooks or electronic databases using provided templates.Biological safety protocols — follow prescribed biosafety level guidelines and personal protective equipment requirements in a clinical or research laboratory environment.Basic culture media — prepare nutrient and selective media formulations according to standardized recipes in support of ongoing microbiological experiments.Specimen logs and chain-of-custody documents — complete and maintain accurately for samples received from health departments or community environmental programs.Entry-level analytical software — enter and retrieve experimental data using laboratory information management systems under supervision in a research or public health lab.
developing
Microbial cultures — isolate, transfer, and maintain bacteria and other microorganisms in both prescribed and self-selected media, independently adjusting aeration, nutrition, and temperature to sustain viable specimens.Physiological and morphological characteristics — examine and classify microorganisms using light and fluorescence microscopy with routine proficiency, applying established taxonomic keys in a clinical diagnostic or environmental lab.Environmental and food safety testing — independently conduct standard monitoring assays on water, food, and environmental samples, interpreting results against regulatory benchmarks.Specialized laboratory equipment — operate thermocyclers, electrophoresis units, and high-pressure liquid chromatographs routinely, troubleshooting common instrument malfunctions without supervision.Organism–disease relationships — apply foundational epidemiological and microbiological principles to investigate sources of contamination or infection in community health or industrial quality-control settings.Technical reports — draft clear written summaries of experimental findings and preliminary recommendations for review by senior scientists in research or public health organizations.Antibiotic susceptibility testing — perform standardized minimum inhibitory concentration assays and interpret results in support of clinical or pharmaceutical laboratory workflows.Biological technician coordination — guide and review the daily bench work of one or two laboratory technicians, ensuring adherence to protocols in a departmental lab setting.Scientific databases and retrieval software — conduct systematic literature searches to inform experimental design and adapt methods to emerging findings in microbiology.Laboratory quality assurance — apply internal quality-control checks to routine assays, identifying out-of-specification results and escalating anomalies through appropriate channels.
proficient
Complex culture systems — design and optimize growth media and environmental conditions for fastidious or novel microorganisms across the full experimental lifecycle in a research or bioprocessing environment.Advanced instrumentation — independently operate and interpret data from electron microscopes, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, gas chromatographs, and phosphorimagers to characterize microbial populations and metabolites.Diagnostic laboratory services — provide authoritative microbiological information to physicians, public health officers, and environmental agencies, translating complex findings into actionable clinical or regulatory guidance.Epidemiological investigation — lead field and laboratory inquiries into outbreak sources, antibiotic resistance patterns, and environmental contamination, integrating multidisciplinary data to determine causative agents.Microorganism classification — apply polyphasic taxonomic approaches, including molecular and phenotypic methods, to identify and formally classify previously uncharacterized organisms in public health or academic settings.Research study design — independently formulate hypotheses, select appropriate controls, and design statistically rigorous experiments investigating organism–disease relationships in peer-reviewed research programs.Technical reporting and publications — author comprehensive technical reports, regulatory submissions, and peer-reviewed manuscripts that synthesize research outcomes and formulate evidence-based recommendations.Biological technologist supervision — independently oversee and evaluate the performance of biological technologists, technicians, and junior scientists, assigning tasks and ensuring data integrity across laboratory operations.Regulatory and compliance standards — interpret and apply federal, state, and international microbiology standards (e.g., FDA, EPA, CDC) to laboratory practices, ensuring full compliance in clinical or environmental settings.Multivariable data analysis — apply mathematical modeling and statistical software to analyze large microbial datasets, drawing defensible conclusions about population dynamics and environmental risk in complex real-world scenarios.
advanced
Organizational research strategy — define and champion the long-range scientific vision for a microbiology department or research division, aligning laboratory capabilities with institutional, funding, and public health priorities.Cross-sector laboratory networks — establish collaborative frameworks among health departments, academic institutions, and government agencies to coordinate environmental monitoring and infectious disease surveillance at regional or national scale.Workforce development — design and implement mentoring, training, and career-development programs for scientists, technologists, and graduate trainees, elevating overall departmental scientific competency.High-impact technical guidance — serve as the principal expert authority on microbiology methods and findings, delivering authoritative recommendations to executive leadership, regulatory bodies, and public health policy makers.Emerging pathogen response — lead institutional or multi-agency responses to novel infectious disease threats, directing resource allocation, laboratory surge capacity, and communication strategies during epidemics or public health emergencies.Innovation and technology adoption — evaluate, champion, and integrate next-generation technologies such as metagenomics platforms, advanced cell-sorting systems, and AI-driven diagnostic tools into organizational workflows.Grant and funding stewardship — secure and manage major extramural research funding, shaping scientific priorities, overseeing budget allocation, and ensuring deliverables across multi-year microbiological research programs.Scientific publication leadership — lead the preparation and strategic dissemination of landmark research findings through high-impact journals, conference keynotes, and policy briefs that shape the field of microbiology.Ethical and biosafety governance — chair institutional biosafety committees and ethics review boards, setting and enforcing standards for responsible research conduct and select-agent compliance across the organization.Interdisciplinary collaboration leadership — orchestrate partnerships with engineers, clinicians, data scientists, and regulatory specialists to translate fundamental microbiological discoveries into applied public health interventions or commercial products.
Also known as
24 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Microbiology AnalystQuality Control Microbiology Analyst (QC Microbiology Analyst)MicrobiologistResearch MicrobiologistClinical MicrobiologistPharmaceutical MicrobiologistMedical Lab Scientist (Medical Laboratory Scientist)VirologistResearch SpecialistQA Microbiologist (Quality Assurance Microbiologist)Microbiology SpecialistBacteriologistMedical MicrobiologistMicroscopistScientistMicrobiological AnalystCytologistResearch AssociateQuality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist)Electron MicroscopistClinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist)Public Health MicrobiologistMicrobiology ScientistMedical Technologist