Microbiologists Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $76,170 -12.8% vs national
Median hourly $36.62
10th percentile $50,060
90th percentile $127,360
Employed locally 220
National median $87,330

Compare Microbiologists salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Microbiologists
in
Seattle, WA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $50,060
    25th
    $61,960
    50th (median)
    $76,170
    75th
    $95,260
    90th
    $127,360

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Microbiologists salary vs area income 68% Median Microbiologists salary is 32% 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
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $105,630
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $96,290
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $83,650
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $82,470
    Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $81,420
    Washington $77,130

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $101,500
    Biological Technicians $58,090
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $98,950
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $99,680
    Urban and Regional Planners $103,410
    Biological Scientists, All Other $98,750

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Microbiologists make per hour in Seattle?

    The median hourly wage for Microbiologists in Seattle, WA is $36.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $63.58 or more per hour.

    Is Seattle above or below average for Microbiologists salaries?

    The median Microbiologists salary in Seattle, WA is 12.8% 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Microbiologists (10th percentile) earn around $50,060 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,960.