by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology covers Medical Microbiology And Bacteriology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Pathogenic Bacteria That Are Significant Factors In Causing Or Facilitating Human Disease. Includes Instruction In The Pathogenesis Of Bacterial Diseases, Bacterial Genetics And Physiology, Bacterial Anatomy And Structure, Antigens, Bacterial Reproduction, Bacterial Adhesion, Phagocytes, And The Identification Of New Or Mutated Bacteria And Bacterial Agents. Continue reading for the important information every medical microbiology & bacteriology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medical microbiology & bacteriology programs.
Nationwide, medical microbiology & bacteriology is a widely-pursued major, with 961 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medical microbiology & bacteriology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medical microbiology & bacteriology programs later in this article.
Programs in Medical Microbiology & Bacteriology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medical microbiology & bacteriology graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a medical microbiology & bacteriology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a medical microbiology & bacteriology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medical microbiology & bacteriology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 457 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 408 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 96 |
People currently working in careers related to medical microbiology & bacteriology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 26.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medical microbiology & bacteriology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in medical microbiology & bacteriology can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to medical microbiology & bacteriology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical microbiology & bacteriology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of medical microbiology & bacteriology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,180 |
| 4 years | $52,367 |
| 5 years | $65,002 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for medical microbiology & bacteriology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medical microbiology & bacteriology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
With 33 different medical microbiology & bacteriology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medical microbiology & bacteriology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in medical microbiology & bacteriology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, General | 2,646 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 443 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other | 253 |
| Immunology | 220 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 162 |
| Virology | 16 |
| Mycology | 6 |
| Parasitology | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
