by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Microbiology involves the study of Microbiology, General. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Unicellular Organisms And Colonies, And Subcellular Genetic Matter And Their Ecological Interactions With Human Beings And Other Life. Includes Instruction In Microbial Genetics, Cell Biology, Cell Physiology, Virology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Immunology, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, And Laboratory Methods Including Microscopy. Continue reading for the essential details every microbiology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering microbiology programs.
Nationwide, microbiology is a widely-pursued major, with 2,646 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Microbiology Schools ranking analyzes these 107 schools to determine the best overall colleges for microbiology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of microbiology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Microbiology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations microbiology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a microbiology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a microbiology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several microbiology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,170 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 247 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 226 |
People currently working in careers related to microbiology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.5% |
| Master’s degree | 14.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.9% |
| Some college courses | 4.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in microbiology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying microbiology prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to microbiology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to microbiology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Microbiologists | 140,194 | -2.7% |
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of microbiology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 microbiology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers microbiology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Microbiologists | $73,155 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
With 107 different microbiology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased microbiology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in microbiology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology | 961 |
| 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.
