The last time a glass of tap water was safe to drink, a bag of salad greens didn’t make anyone sick, or an antibiotic cleared an infection the way it was supposed to, a microbiologist was somewhere in the chain. Most of that work happens out of sight, in labs that test water and food, study how bacteria and fungi function, or track the pathogens moving through hospitals and farms.
A microbiologist is a scientist who studies microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi to understand how they grow, interact, and affect people, animals, and the environment. Getting into the field typically starts with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology or a related science like biology, plus laboratory experience, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The market is steady, too: the agency projects 6% job growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3% average for all occupations, with about 1,500 openings a year.
Where you start depends on which corner of the field pulls you. If it’s the side tied to animal health and food production, such as the bacterial pathogens that move through livestock operations or the testing that keeps meat and milk safe, Unity Environmental University’s Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Animal Science includes microbiology, cell biology, organic chemistry, and biochemistry in its program core, through remote learning designed for the life you’re already living. From there, the path to a microbiology career comes down to the same few choices wherever you start: the right science courses, early lab time, and a clear specialty.
What Does a Microbiologist Do?
Microbiologists spend their working lives answering one question in many forms: what is this organism doing, and what does it mean for everything around it? Depending on the role, that might mean isolating and growing cultures, identifying organisms found in samples from patients, crops, animals, or a river, running experiments that help diagnose an illness, or testing whether a sterilization process actually works.
The BLS describes the job as a mix of bench science and communication. Microbiologists plan research, run experiments, write technical reports, present findings, and frequently supervise biological technicians. Most work in laboratories and offices, though some travel to collect samples in the field. Researchers also tend to live with a pressure outsiders rarely see: much of their funding comes from competitive grants.
Types of Microbiologists
Few people stay generalists for long. The BLS identifies nine specialties, and each points toward a different kind of employer:
| Specialty | What They Focus On | Where the Work Often Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Bacteriologist | Growth and behavior of bacteria and their effects on plants, animals, and people | Research labs, testing labs |
| Clinical microbiologist | Testing specimens to detect and prevent disease | Hospital and diagnostic labs |
| Environmental microbiologist | How microorganisms interact with ecosystems and each other | Environmental agencies, water utilities, consulting firms |
| Industrial microbiologist | Using microorganisms in manufacturing processes | Biotechnology, food and beverage, manufacturing |
| Medical microbiologist | How diseases develop and how to diagnose, treat, and control them | Research institutes, pharmaceutical companies |
| Mycologist | Fungi such as yeast and mold, including their uses and risks | Agriculture, pharmaceuticals, research |
| Parasitologist | Parasites, their life cycles, and their relationships with hosts | Research, public and animal health |
| Public health microbiologist | Tracking and controlling communicable diseases | State and local health department labs |
| Virologist | The structure and behavior of viruses | Research, public health, pharmaceuticals |
Why Microbiologists Matter Now
Microbiology rarely makes the news until something goes wrong, and that is exactly why the work stays in demand. A few pressures keep employers hiring:
- Antibiotic resistance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in its 2019 threats assessment that antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Identifying resistant organisms and testing new treatments is microbiology work.
- Food safety. CDC estimates that 48 million people get sick from foodborne diseases each year, with 128,000 hospitalized and 3,000 deaths. Testing labs, food producers, and regulators all need people who can find a pathogen before it reaches a dinner table.
- New drugs and fuels. The BLS expects pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to need microbiologists to develop drugs produced with the help of microorganisms, and biofuel research to sustain demand as well.
- Environmental and public health. The same BLS outlook credits efforts to protect the environment and safeguard public health, which covers everything from monitoring water systems to tracking disease outbreaks.
What Is the Job Market Like for Microbiologists?
Microbiologists held about 20,100 jobs in 2025, according to the BLS, spread across a handful of sectors. Knowing where those jobs sit helps you aim your coursework and internships:
| Employer Type | Share of Microbiologist Jobs, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 21% |
| Government | 20% |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 14% |
| Testing laboratories and services | 11% |
| State colleges, universities, and professional schools | 7% |
Growth of 6% over the decade is moderate in absolute terms, roughly 1,300 new positions, but the 1,500 projected annual openings include jobs left by people retiring or changing careers. That replacement demand means openings come up every year, not just when the field expands. Government is a sizable employer, and federal roles are posted on USAJOBS.
How Much Do Microbiologists Make?
Microbiologists earned a median annual wage of $87,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,670 and the highest-paid 10% more than $150,000, and the industry you work in explains a large share of that spread:
| Industry | Median Annual Wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Government | $105,880 |
| Research and development | $105,110 |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | $83,770 |
| State colleges, universities, and professional schools | $67,960 |
| Testing laboratories and services | $59,470 |
Many graduates don’t step straight into a microbiologist title. A common first role is biological technician, assisting scientists with lab setup, data collection, and observation, a job the BLS reports at a $57,510 median. It is where much of the lab experience employers ask for gets built.
How to Become a Microbiologist
There is no single required path, but the people who get hired tend to have done four things well, usually overlapping rather than one after another.
Step 1: Choose a Degree That Covers the Science Employers Screen For
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree in microbiology or a related field such as biology as the typical entry point, with coursework that can include microbial genetics, environmental microbiology, and virology alongside chemistry, physics, and math. If federal work interests you, check the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Microbiology Series 0403 standard early. It calls for at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and related subjects plus 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences, including organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra. Planning for that from the first term is far easier than adding it after graduation.
Step 2: Get Into a Lab as Early as You Can
Undergraduate lab courses teach the equipment you’ll use on the job, and the BLS notes that internships add the practical experience employers look for. Technician roles, research assistant positions, and volunteer lab work all count. A semester spent maintaining cultures and logging results tells a hiring manager more than a transcript can.
Step 3: Pick a Direction, Then Decide on Graduate School
Specialization shapes everything that follows. Clinical, food, environmental, and industrial roles often hire at the bachelor’s level, while some employers prefer a master’s degree or Ph.D., and independent research usually requires a doctorate followed by postdoctoral work. Deciding which specialty you’re aiming for helps you decide whether, and when, graduate school makes sense.
Step 4: Add Credentials When an Employer Asks for Them
Certification is optional for most microbiologists, though the BLS notes that some employers prefer it, and options exist for many specialties. CareerOneStop’s certification finder is the simplest place to see what is available for a given specialty. At senior levels in clinical and public health microbiology, OPM accepts board certification from the American Board of Medical Microbiology as meeting federal experience requirements.
Skills That Make You Market-Ready
A degree gets your application read. These are the skills that decide who gets the job, drawn from the qualities the BLS lists for the occupation and the work microbiologists actually do:
| Skill | Why Employers Care | How to Build It Now |
|---|---|---|
| Lab technique and safety | You will handle cultures, and sometimes dangerous organisms, under strict safety procedures | Lab-based courses, technician jobs, volunteer research |
| Precision and documentation | Results are only usable if conditions and steps are recorded exactly | Treat every lab notebook as a work sample you could show an employer |
| Data analysis | Conclusions come from interpreting results, frequently with software | Statistics coursework and regular practice with spreadsheets or data tools |
| Scientific writing and speaking | Reports, recommendations, grant applications, and presentations are part of the job | Lab reports, poster sessions, and writing-intensive courses |
| Teamwork and supervision | Research runs on teams, and microbiologists commonly oversee technicians | Group projects and lead roles in field or lab work |
| Persistence | Research is trial and error, and grant funding is competitive | Long-term or independent projects that test your patience |
Where Unity Fits Into the Path
Unity Environmental University doesn’t offer a dedicated microbiology major, so the real question is which program puts the most microbiology-relevant science on your transcript. For students drawn to the agricultural and animal health side of the field, the BS in Agricultural Animal Science covers much of the science microbiology roles screen for, applied to livestock health and food production. Courses in the program core include:
- BIOL 310 Microbiology, the course most directly tied to the field, required in the program core rather than left as an elective
- BIOL 315 Cell Biology, which builds the cell-level understanding that microbial genetics and physiology depend on
- CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, one of the subject areas the federal OPM 0403 standard names directly
- CHEM 301 Biochemistry and CHEM 302 Biochemistry Laboratory, connecting chemistry to the metabolic processes microorganisms run on
- ANIM 310 Sustainable Livestock Health, Nutrition, and Care, where those sciences are applied to the health of production animals
The program also draws on experts with microbiology backgrounds. Dr. Zachary Williams, featured on the program page as a global expert in microbiology and bacterial pathogens, has research covering the microbiology of broiler litter and controlling bacterial pathogens through litter management.
If federal microbiologist roles are your goal, compare your plan with the OPM 0403 standard early. The program core covers microbiology, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, but check with an advisor that your total credits meet the standard’s semester-hour thresholds, and whether physics and college algebra need to come from your elective credits or from transfer coursework.
Getting hired takes more than coursework, and Unity’s career services team and Handshake job platform help students search for internships and first roles while they study. If marine microbes are what draw you instead, Unity’s guide to becoming a marine microbiologist goes deeper on that niche.
Start Your Microbiology Path With Unity Environmental University
Microbiology rewards people who are curious about what they can’t see and patient enough to prove what they find. The sooner you get into a lab, the sooner that curiosity turns into a skill set employers will pay for.
Unity’s BS in Agricultural Animal Science builds a science foundation in microbiology, cell biology, and biochemistry, applied to animal health and food production, through remote learning built around your current schedule. Tuition rates are locked through 2030, and Unity ranks in the top 1% of universities nationally for social mobility.
Request information about the BS in Agricultural Animal Science, and our team will help you map your courses and transfer credits against the path you want.
Common Questions About Becoming a Microbiologist
Short answers to what people ask most.
How Long Does It Take To Become a Microbiologist?
Entry-level roles typically require a bachelor’s degree, about four years of full-time study. Research positions generally call for a master’s degree or Ph.D., and Ph.D. holders commonly complete postdoctoral research before landing a permanent role.
What Is the Difference Between a Microbiologist and a Biological Technician?
Biological technicians assist scientists with lab setup, data collection, and observation, with a BLS median of $57,510. Microbiologists plan and lead the research, interpret the results, and often supervise technicians, with a median of $87,990.
Do You Need a Master’s Degree To Be a Microbiologist?
Not for many entry-level roles, where a bachelor’s degree is the typical requirement. Some employers prefer a master’s or Ph.D., especially for research positions and advancement into leadership.
What Does an Environmental Microbiologist Do?
Environmental microbiologists study how microorganisms interact with ecosystems and with each other. In practice, that can include testing water quality, studying soil and aquatic microbes, or assessing how pollution changes the microbes living in a system.
Is Microbiology a Good Career?
For many people, yes. The BLS projects 6% growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with a median wage of $87,990. Research roles can be competitive because of grant funding, while testing, clinical, and industry roles offer more predictable paths.
