Microbiologists Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $74,560 -14.6% vs national
Median hourly $35.85
10th percentile $51,430
90th percentile $123,910
Employed locally 670
National median $87,330

Compare Microbiologists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Microbiologists
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,430
    25th
    $58,810
    50th (median)
    $74,560
    75th
    $94,460
    90th
    $123,910

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Microbiologists salary vs area income 84% Median Microbiologists salary is 16% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Microbiologists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $129,830
    Worcester, MA $127,120
    Massachusetts $126,260
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,140
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $124,580
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $123,590

    Nearby metros — Microbiologists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $106,660
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $96,290
    Peoria, IL $93,240
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $90,790
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $84,240
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $83,120

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $78,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $98,240
    Chemists $100,720
    School Psychologists $80,600
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $98,780
    Physicists $131,260

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Microbiologists make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Microbiologists in Chicago, IL-IN is $35.85, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $64.45 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Microbiologists salaries?

    The median Microbiologists salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 14.6% below the national median of $87,330. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Microbiologists in Chicago?

    Entry-level Microbiologists (10th percentile) earn around $51,430 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,810.