Microbiologists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $163,790 or more. The middle half of microbiologists in Boston earn between $100,190 and $142,220.
- $76K10th
- $100K25th
- $122KMedian
- $142K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,080 | $10,090 | $58.21 |
| Median | $122,350 | $10,196 | $58.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $100,190 | $8,349 | $48.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $142,220 | $11,852 | $68.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Microbiologists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Microbiologists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($119,700) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($97,600). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $87,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $121,080 | $122,350 | $75,990 | $163,790 | 1,810 |
| Massachusetts | $119,700 | $122,350 | $75,990 | $162,760 | 1,960 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $121,080, a single filer in Boston takes home about $88,276 a year, or $7,356 a month and $3,395 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $94,010 | $7,834 |
| Working in MA | $88,276 | $7,356 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for microbiologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $121,080 buys what about $111,836 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Microbiologists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$121,080
- Worcester$113,530
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 Boston: questions
How much do microbiologists make an hour in Boston?
$58.21 an hour on average, and $58.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $100,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the microbiologists take-home pay in Boston?
About $88,276 a year ($7,356 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,080. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do microbiologists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.49, this job is 5.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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