Microbiologist Salary in Boston, MA
Microbiologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $122,350 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,995 take-home, or $7,416 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median microbiologist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,098
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,586
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,774
- Massachusetts income tax$5,898
- Take-home pay$88,995
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Microbiologist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,990 | $36.53 | $58,709 | $4,892 |
| 25th percentile | $100,190 | $48.17 | $74,524 | $6,210 |
| Median (50th) | $122,350 | $58.82 | $88,995 | $7,416 |
| 75th percentile | $142,220 | $68.38 | $101,582 | $8,465 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,790 | $78.75 | $115,247 | $9,604 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,350 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median microbiologist's $88,995 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,200 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 5.5× the national concentration of microbiologist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for microbiologists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #1 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $122,350 | $88,995 | $82,200 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $109,320 | $80,686 | $80,639 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,070 | $90,611 | $78,374 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $114,800 | $82,802 | $76,046 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,990 | $77,449 | $75,520 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $100,620 | $74,780 | $72,185 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,420 | $73,061 | $64,333 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $85,710 | $65,096 | $57,830 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a microbiologist make in Boston, MA?
The median microbiologist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $122,350 a year, or about $58.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,190 and $142,220.
What is a microbiologist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $122,350 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $88,995 a year ($7,416 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,898 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a microbiologist?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $87,990. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,200 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #1 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a microbiologist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median microbiologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Materials Scientist — $132,600
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $131,550
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $129,500
- Chemist — $127,290
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $121,270
- Epidemiologist — $115,890
- Psychologists, All Other — $112,900
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $110,410
- Economist — $108,140
- Physicist — $106,000
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $105,960
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $105,670