Microbiologists pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,040 or more. The middle half of microbiologists in Philadelphia earn between $73,880 and $107,810.
- $56K10th
- $74K25th
- $102KMedian
- $108K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,730 | $7,978 | $46.02 |
| Median | $101,990 | $8,499 | $49.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,880 | $6,157 | $35.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,810 | $8,984 | $51.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Microbiologists pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Microbiologists in Philadelphia earn 11% more than the Pennsylvania average ($86,370) and about the same as the U.S. average ($97,600). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $87,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $95,730 | $101,990 | $56,010 | $132,040 | 570 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,370 | $84,650 | $50,300 | $132,040 | 670 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $95,730, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $73,237 a year, or $6,103 a month and $2,817 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $73,237 | $6,103 |
| Working in NJ | $72,268 | $6,022 |
| Working in MD | $71,840 | $5,987 |
| Working in DE | $71,089 | $5,924 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for microbiologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $95,730 buys what about $93,346 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Microbiologists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 4 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$95,730
- Pittsburgh$68,340
- Harrisburg$67,380
- Allentown$63,770
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do microbiologists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$46.02 an hour on average, and $49.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the microbiologists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $73,237 a year ($6,103 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,730. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do microbiologists earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.63, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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