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Avg. salary range
$58k–$86k
across regions
Hours / Day
8
Days / Week
5
working days
About this career
A Microbiologist is a scientist who studies tiny living things called microbes, which include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms that are too small to see without a microscope. These tiny creatures play huge roles in our lives—some help us stay healthy, while others can cause diseases. Microbiologists work in labs where they grow and examine microbes to understand how they live, spread, and interact with people, animals, plants, and the environment. Their work helps develop vaccines, improve food safety, treat infections, and even clean up pollution. Whether they're helping doctors fight diseases or making sure our water is safe to drink, microbiologists play a big role in keeping the world healthy and safe.
Career Level
Where you could work
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What you'll need
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Communication
Are you able to write or vocalize your thoughts efficiently? Can you retain information that you hear or read?
Problem Solving
Do you enjoy solving puzzles? Are you able to easily identify the cause of a problem?
Reliability
When you say that you will do something, do you do it? Do you consistently show up on time? Are you someone that other people can depend on or trust?
Research
Are you able to easily collect information? Do you quickly identify higher priority information?
Education & Training
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's is a post-secondary undergraduate degree. Historically, the term “college degree” meant a bachelor's or traditional four-year degree. Bachelor's degrees usually take between four and six years to complete.
Compensation
Spokane
Washington
Low
$45,500
Average
$67,600
High
$76,300
Washington minimum wage
Salary data reflects regional averages and may vary by employer, experience, and specialization.
Work Schedule
Shift cycle
5 on · 2 off per cycle
Typical shifts are 8am until 5pm, Monday through Friday
Where do we get our data?
Our career data is based on regional averages provided by the Spokane Workforce Council. Data is subject to change based on location, job specialty, experience level, and/or union association.
How does it compare?
Average Salary
$70,667
Overall Rank
108th
out of 199 careers
In STEM
14th
out of 19 careers
Salary distribution
Rankings are based on average salary data across all careers in our database. Individual earnings may vary.
See it in action
