Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in Worcester, MA is $115,660/year ($55.61/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.52), that's roughly $112,817 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,056/month, or 28.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $116K get you in Worcester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Worcester’s Regional Price Parity (102.52). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About microbiologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Worcester
Worcester sits well above the national pay line for microbiologists, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $88K. Rent runs $2,056/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.52) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for microbiologists in metros near Worcester, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $122K | $113K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $86K | $76K |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $85K | $83K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $80K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Worcester, MA
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $116K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Microbiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Microbiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122K | +39% | 1,960 |
| California | $109K | +23% | 2,600 |
| Maryland | $108K | +23% | 1,590 |
| Georgia | $103K | +17% | 880 |
| New Jersey | $96K | +9% | 790 |
| Illinois | $92K | +5% | 1,470 |
| Oregon | $89K | +1% | 170 |
| Montana | $88K | -0% | 80 |
| Connecticut | $86K | -2% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $86K | -2% | 1,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $85K | -4% | 670 |
| Minnesota | $83K | -5% | 290 |
| Delaware | $83K | -6% | 190 |
| Colorado | $82K | -7% | 370 |
| New York | $81K | -8% | 1,050 |
| Florida | $81K | -8% | 270 |
| Iowa | $80K | -9% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $79K | -10% | 170 |
| Michigan | $79K | -11% | 370 |
| Missouri | $79K | -11% | 140 |
| Indiana | $78K | -11% | 150 |
| Virginia | $78K | -12% | 280 |
| Washington | $78K | -12% | 340 |
| Tennessee | $78K | -12% | 210 |
| Alaska | $76K | -13% | 30 |
| Utah | $73K | -17% | 120 |
| Ohio | $73K | -18% | 530 |
| Nebraska | $72K | -18% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $71K | -19% | 60 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -20% | 80 |
| Kansas | $71K | -20% | 120 |
| Arizona | $70K | -21% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $69K | -22% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | -24% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $67K | -24% | 80 |
| Texas | $66K | -24% | 920 |
| Idaho | $66K | -25% | 70 |
| Alabama | $66K | -25% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -26% | 100 |
| Nevada | $64K | -27% | 110 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -30% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $60K | -32% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track microbiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Worcester numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Worcester?
Yes — at the median salary of $116K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,056/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for microbiologists in Worcester?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,213/month. At HUD’s $2,056/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is microbiologist a high-paying job in Worcester?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $116K here vs. $88K nationally.
How does Worcester compare to the national average for microbiologists?
Worcester pays $116K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.52), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in Worcester, MA?
The median is $115,660 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,210, and experienced microbiologists can clear $167,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $116K enough to live in Worcester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,056/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a microbiologists salary go in Worcester?
Worcester has a Regional Price Parity of 102.52 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median microbiologists salary is worth about $112,817 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do microbiologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.