Microbiologist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Microbiologists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $100,420 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,061 take-home, or $6,088 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median microbiologist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,262
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,226
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,456
- California income tax$5,109
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,305
- Take-home pay$73,061
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Microbiologist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,110 | $30.34 | $50,232 | $4,186 |
| 25th percentile | $77,920 | $37.46 | $59,612 | $4,968 |
| Median (50th) | $100,420 | $48.28 | $73,061 | $6,088 |
| 75th percentile | $127,150 | $61.13 | $88,925 | $7,410 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,550 | $69.50 | $98,973 | $8,248 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,420 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median microbiologist's $73,061 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,333 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Microbiologist jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for microbiologists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 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 →
Microbiologist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $130,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a microbiologist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median microbiologist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $100,420 a year, or about $48.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,920 and $127,150.
What is a microbiologist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $100,420 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,061 a year ($6,088 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,415 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a microbiologist?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $87,990. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,333 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a microbiologist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median microbiologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Physicist — $160,270
- Psychologists, All Other — $153,630
- Physical Scientists, All Other — $136,160
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $134,890
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $131,700
- School Psychologist — $122,390
- Urban and Regional Planner — $111,380
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $105,340
- Forensic Science Technician — $104,410
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $102,610
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $100,550
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $99,250