Microbiologists Salary in Raleigh, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Raleigh-Cary, NC

Median annual salary $80,370 -8% vs national
Median hourly $38.64
10th percentile $51,220
90th percentile $129,750
Employed locally 390
National median $87,330

Compare Microbiologists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Raleigh, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Microbiologists
in
Raleigh, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,220
    25th
    $66,230
    50th (median)
    $80,370
    75th
    $109,710
    90th
    $129,750

    Raleigh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,066 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,140
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $96,290
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $90,790
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $82,120
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $77,940
    Wilmington, NC $75,920

    Related occupations in Raleigh, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $66,370
    Chemists $80,940
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $102,470
    Biological Scientists, All Other $102,030
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $81,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $117,060

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Microbiologists make per hour in Raleigh?

    The median hourly wage for Microbiologists in Raleigh, NC is $38.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $66.12 or more per hour.

    Is Raleigh above or below average for Microbiologists salaries?

    The median Microbiologists salary in Raleigh, NC is 8% 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 Raleigh?

    Entry-level Microbiologists (10th percentile) earn around $51,220 per year in Raleigh, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $66,230.