Becoming a Microbiologist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
University of Maryland University College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering biology courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
biologists,
marine biologists,
wildlife biologists,
molecular biologists,
fish and wildlife biologists,
fisheries biologists,
molecular biology professors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 16,260 people employed as
microbiologists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$71,980.
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists make on average $55,620
per year and there are about 166,860
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like University of Maryland University College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Microbiologist
- public health office
- government
- university
- hospital
- gastroenterologist's office
- hematology lab
- research facility
- disease control center
- biotechnology firm
- pharmaceutical company
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Microbiologist
- work with microscopic organisms
- research small lifeforms
- earn a healthy income
- work for a variety of institutions
- increase your knowledge of everyday life functions
- identify diseases from organisms to develop cures
- develop ways to treat disease
- test drinking water to ensure safety of communities
- improve plant growth through use of healthy bacteria
- work in a laboratory at your own pace
Potential Drawbacks
- strenuous activities
- might have to live in primitive conditions for extended periods of time
- work in very warm climates
- work in very cold climates
- work in all kinds of weather
- find funding for projects
- can be exposed to unsafe conditions
- work with dangerous organisms
- work with toxic substances
- often under pressure to meet deadlines
Related Professions to Consider
- Microbiologist
- Principal Microbiologist
- Biologist
- Food Microbiologist
- Microbiology Lab Tech
- Senior Microbiologist
- Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist
- Chemical Microbiologist
- QC Microbiologist
- Associate Laboratory Microbiologist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Microbiologist
- Tell me about yourself?
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What do you know about this organization?
- Why do you want to work for this organization?
- What kind of salary do you need?
- How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
- Why should we hire you?
- What is your greatest strength?
- Do you have any experience?
- Do you have any questions for me?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Post-Doctoral Molecular Microbiologist
- Biological Indicator Specialist/Microbiologist Job
- Biocompatibility Specialist Job
- Microbiologist II
- Senior Microbiologist
- Sr Microbiologist Job
- Medicine or microbiologist professor
- Lead Microbiologist
- Assistant Lab Technician
- Production Microbiologist
Microbiologist Training books
Microbiologist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- aviation science
- biology
- biotechnology
- environmental science
- fire science
- mathematics statistics
- microbiology
- physics
- veterinary science
- health care
Microbiologist Salary Information
Category: Microbiologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,260 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$34.61/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.82 |
$23.92 |
$32.01 |
$42.84 |
$54.4 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$71,980 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $39,150 |
$49,750 |
$66,580 |
$89,110 |
$113,150 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Microbiologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$46.46/hr
|
$96,640
|
| Florida |
$45.56/hr
|
$94,770
|
| Idaho |
$42.81/hr
|
$89,030
|
| Delaware |
$39.04/hr
|
$81,190
|
| Colorado |
$38.21/hr
|
$79,470
|
| Iowa |
$37.33/hr
|
$77,650
|
| North Dakota |
$36.62/hr
|
$76,160
|
| Utah |
$35.85/hr
|
$74,570
|
| Louisiana |
$34.74/hr
|
$72,250
|
| Kansas |
$34.29/hr
|
$71,320
|
| Oklahoma |
$34.02/hr
|
$70,760
|
| Missouri |
$33.93/hr
|
$70,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$33.06/hr
|
$68,760
|
| Michigan |
$32.69/hr
|
$68,000
|
| New Jersey |
$32.49/hr
|
$67,570
|
| New Mexico |
$32.19/hr
|
$66,960
|
| South Carolina |
$31.98/hr
|
$66,520
|
| District of Columbia |
$31.44/hr
|
$65,400
|
| California |
$30.99/hr
|
$64,460
|
| Connecticut |
$30.83/hr
|
$64,120
|
| Nevada |
$30.65/hr
|
$63,750
|
| Nebraska |
$29.62/hr
|
$61,600
|
| Oregon |
$29.58/hr
|
$61,530
|
| Montana |
$29.51/hr
|
$61,390
|
| Indiana |
$28.7/hr
|
$59,700
|
| Alabama |
$27.96/hr
|
$58,150
|
| Alaska |
$27.71/hr
|
$57,630
|
| Wyoming |
$27.69/hr
|
$57,590
|
| Guam |
$27.66/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Hawaii |
$27.42/hr
|
$57,030
|
| Arkansas |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,840
|
| Washington |
$27.28/hr
|
$56,740
|
| Kentucky |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Wisconsin |
$24.3/hr
|
$50,550
|
| Maryland |
$24.15/hr
|
$50,240
|
| Maine |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| West Virginia |
$23.45/hr
|
$48,780
|
Category: Medical and clinical laboratory technologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
166,860 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.74/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.05 |
$22.02 |
$26.51 |
$31.27 |
$36.52 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$55,620 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,540 |
$45,810 |
$55,140 |
$65,050 |
$75,960 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.4% |
10.8% |
18.2% |
17.2% |
44.4% |
5.4% |
2.5% |
|
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$35.27/hr
|
$73,350
|
| New York |
$32.48/hr
|
$67,550
|
| Alaska |
$30.78/hr
|
$64,030
|
| Delaware |
$30.27/hr
|
$62,950
|
| Florida |
$30.05/hr
|
$62,510
|
| Mississippi |
$29.74/hr
|
$61,860
|
| Virginia |
$29.71/hr
|
$61,790
|
| Missouri |
$29.4/hr
|
$61,150
|
| North Dakota |
$29.37/hr
|
$61,090
|
| Tennessee |
$29.27/hr
|
$60,880
|
| Indiana |
$28.92/hr
|
$60,150
|
| Oklahoma |
$28.78/hr
|
$59,860
|
| Nebraska |
$28.52/hr
|
$59,320
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.41/hr
|
$59,090
|
| Puerto Rico |
$27.37/hr
|
$56,930
|
| Connecticut |
$26.88/hr
|
$55,920
|
| North Carolina |
$26.28/hr
|
$54,660
|
| Wisconsin |
$25.71/hr
|
$53,470
|
| Hawaii |
$25.64/hr
|
$53,340
|
| Utah |
$25.53/hr
|
$53,100
|
| Montana |
$25.51/hr
|
$53,060
|
| Michigan |
$25.5/hr
|
$53,050
|
| Iowa |
$25.43/hr
|
$52,900
|
| New Jersey |
$25.29/hr
|
$52,600
|
| New Hampshire |
$25.22/hr
|
$52,450
|
| Kansas |
$25.01/hr
|
$52,020
|
| South Carolina |
$24.98/hr
|
$51,950
|
| Maine |
$24.96/hr
|
$51,910
|
| Wyoming |
$24.73/hr
|
$51,450
|
| Guam |
$24.72/hr
|
$51,410
|
| Louisiana |
$24.48/hr
|
$50,910
|
| Idaho |
$24.33/hr
|
$50,610
|
| Maryland |
$24.22/hr
|
$50,390
|
| Oregon |
$24.18/hr
|
$50,300
|
| Alabama |
$24.06/hr
|
$50,050
|
| California |
$23.59/hr
|
$49,060
|
| Arkansas |
$23.54/hr
|
$48,960
|
| Massachusetts |
$23.52/hr
|
$48,920
|
| Washington |
$23.49/hr
|
$48,860
|
| Kentucky |
$23.47/hr
|
$48,830
|
| Pennsylvania |
$23.41/hr
|
$48,680
|
| West Virginia |
$23.28/hr
|
$48,420
|
| Nevada |
$23.21/hr
|
$48,270
|
| New Mexico |
$22.73/hr
|
$47,270
|
| South Dakota |
$22.4/hr
|
$46,590
|
| Ohio |
$21.91/hr
|
$45,570
|
