Jobs Similar to Microbiologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to microbiologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Molecular and Cellular Biologists, Soil and Plant Scientists and Medical Scientists.
Microbiologists: $87,990 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Microbiologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 83% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 81% | $78,850−10% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 80% | $103,410+18% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | GeneticistsSame group | 80% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 80% | $68,940−22% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Food Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 80% | $88,720+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | BiologistsSame group | 80% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsSame group | 79% | $127,410+45% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Physicians, Pathologists | 79% | $312,400+255% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 78% | $82,220−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Bioinformatics ScientistsSame group | 76% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | 76% | $55,090−37% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 76% | $73,010−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Medical Dosimetrists | 76% | $147,470+68% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 75% | $76,780−13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Materials Scientists | 75% | $117,790+34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 75% | $101,920+16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 74% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Validation Engineers | 74% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Radiologists | 74% | $420,860+378% | Graduate degree |
- 1Molecular and Cellular Biologists
83% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Soil and Plant Scientists
81% similar · $78,850 (−10%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
80% similar · $103,410 (+18%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Geneticists
80% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Animal Scientists
80% similar · $68,940 (−22%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Food Scientists and Technologists
80% similar · $88,720 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Biologists
80% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Biochemists and Biophysicists
79% similar · $127,410 (+45%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Physicians, Pathologists
79% similar · $312,400 (+255%) · Graduate degree
- 10Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
78% similar · $82,220 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Bioinformatics Scientists
76% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
76% similar · $55,090 (−37%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Conservation Scientists
76% similar · $73,010 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Medical Dosimetrists
76% similar · $147,470 (+68%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
75% similar · $76,780 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Materials Scientists
75% similar · $117,790 (+34%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
75% similar · $101,920 (+16%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Bioinformatics Technicians
74% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Validation Engineers
74% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Radiologists
74% similar · $420,860 (+378%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than microbiologists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for microbiologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where microbiologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Chemists (80)
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (78)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (76)
- Bioinformatics Technicians (74)
- Biological Technicians (74)
- Validation Engineers (74)
- Agricultural Engineers (73)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (72)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (72)
- Forensic Science Technicians (70)
Questions about jobs like microbiologists
What jobs are most similar to microbiologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Molecular and Cellular Biologists (83% similar), Soil and Plant Scientists (81% similar), Medical Scientists (80% similar), Geneticists (80% similar) and Animal Scientists (80% similar).
Which jobs like microbiologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +378%; usually a graduate degree), Physicians (Pathologists) ($312,400, +255%; usually a graduate degree) and Medical Dosimetrists ($147,470, +68%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with microbiologists ($87,990). Without more preparation than microbiologists usually need: Medical Dosimetrists, Materials Scientists and Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.