Microbiologists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $189,780 or more. The middle half of microbiologists in San Jose earn between $82,400 and $154,670.
- $72K10th
- $82K25th
- $124KMedian
- $155K75th
- $190K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,300 | $10,358 | $59.76 |
| Median | $123,910 | $10,326 | $59.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,400 | $6,867 | $39.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $154,670 | $12,889 | $74.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Microbiologists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Microbiologists in San Jose earn 8% more than the California average ($114,790) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($97,600). At the median the gap is +41% against the U.S. median of $87,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $124,300 | $123,910 | $72,040 | $189,780 | 190 |
| California | $114,790 | $108,530 | $62,440 | $183,420 | 2,600 |
| United States | $97,600 | $87,990 | $54,670 | $150,000 | 18,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Microbiologists salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $124,300, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $88,757 a year, or $7,396 a month and $3,414 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for microbiologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $124,300 buys what about $112,567 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 13.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Microbiologists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 4th of 11 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($135,860).
- San Francisco$135,860
- Santa Rosa$126,450
- Vallejo$125,010
- San Jose$124,300
- Sacramento$123,550
- San Diego$103,650
- Modesto$102,370
- Fresno$101,640
- Riverside$101,600
- Los Angeles$101,560
Highest-paying cities for microbiologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($135,860).
- San Francisco, CA$135,860
- Santa Rosa, CA$126,450
- Vallejo, CA$125,010
- San Jose, CA$124,300
- Athens, GA$123,910
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Microbiologists salary in San Jose: questions
How much do microbiologists make an hour in San Jose?
$59.76 an hour on average, and $59.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the microbiologists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $88,757 a year ($7,396 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,300. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do microbiologists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more than the U.S. average for this job ($97,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1022; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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