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Microbiologists
Other names for this job might include Bacteriologist, Chemist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Microbiologist, Cytologist, Electron Microscopist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Microbiologist, Medical Technologist, Microbiological Analyst
- $76230Salary
- 64%Job satisfaction
- HardBecoming one
- MediumJob growth
C+
Microbiologists: Know It All In 1 Minute
Table of Contents
In this career summary, you will find out what the job of A Microbiologist is about and what it is like.
After reading this, you will have a good idea on what the job is about and decide if this is the right career for you.
Job description
Microbiologists investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, for community environmental health programs and for physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
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Microbiologists with little to no experience tend to make between $38810 and $48980 while the more experienced ones make over $96900 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| DC | $54.68 | $113730 |
| MD | $45.03 | $93650 |
| CA | $44.31 | $92160 |
| CT | $44.1 | $91720 |
| GA | $41.11 | $85500 |
1 of the easiest ways to increase your salary as A Microbiologist is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Microbiologists are DC, MD, CA, CT and GA.
However a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be 2x higher than where you are currently at now.
3 other factors that can increase your salary as A Microbiologist is the degree you hold, the industry you work in and lastly the company you work for (bigger companies like the Fortune 500 companies tend to pay more).
Requirements
We asked other Microbiologists what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelors degree followed by Post-doctoral.
Other than that we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
| Soil Microbiology |
| Structural Biology |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other |
| Microbiology, General |
| Microbiology and Immunology |
Another popular question from our readers is what makes A Microbiologist successful or would they be good in this career.
Well, we found that most successful Microbiologists have these 5 skillsets.
| Science |
| Critical Thinking |
| Writing |
| Reading Comprehension |
| Active Listening |
In addition to that, 1 common characteristic among successful Microbiologists is they are good at Analytical Thinking. Here are the top 5 common characteristics.
| Analytical Thinking |
| Attention to Detail |
| Integrity |
| Dependability |
| Initiative |
Pros and Cons
Here are some reasons why you should and shouldn’t choose A Microbiologist as your career.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally |
| Suitable for people who wants recognition and wants career advancement and a prestigious career |
| This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors. |
| Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers) |
| CONS |
|---|
| Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs |
| It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience is required for this career. |
| Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week) |
There will be pros and cons for all jobs. The point is how much do the pros outweigh the cons to you.
A pro to you might be a con to Bob. A pro to Bob might be a con to you. We suggest reading about this career framework that can help you to find out what type of careers are right for you.
What is the job like
On a normal working week Microbiologists work More than 40 hours per week.
64% of Microbiologists said they were satisfied with their job and 69% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the careers require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
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Related to Microbiologists Career Information
Microbiologists job description, Microbiologists salary, Microbiologists information, what is the job of a Microbiologist like, pros and cons about Microbiologists, colleges and universities for Microbiologists, is Microbiologists the right career for me, Hard careers to get into, careers in Social Science and Humanities
Additional resources
http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/microbiologists.htmhttp://www.asm.org/
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