Every occupation the official NCES/BLS crosswalk connects to microbiology programs, with BLS pay, the education each job usually needs, what the work involves, and where to go next.
Microbiology · CIP 26.05 series · 9 codes · 9 careers · Check one exact major, e.g. 26.0502 Microbiology, General, in the major to career finder
The official NCES/BLS crosswalk maps microbiology programs to 9 occupations that such programs typically prepare people for, including Natural Sciences Manager, Microbiologist and Food Science Technician. BLS median pay across them runs from $52,130 (Food Science Technician) to $167,220 (Natural Sciences Manager) in May 2025. The crosswalk describes preparation, not what graduates actually go on to do.
Data Program → related occupations: these are jobs microbiology programs typically prepare people for (NCES/BLS crosswalk). Not a guaranteed outcome, and not a record of what graduates do.
Data Filter by the education the job usually needs or its preparation level; sort by pay or by number employed.
| Occupation | Most common education | Job Zone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Administrator | $123,860 | 597,080 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $107,310 | 221,270 | Master's Degree | 5 |
| Medical Scientist | $103,410 | 172,340 | Doctoral Degree | 5 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $167,220 | 108,690 | Bachelor's Degree | 5 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | 69,620 | n/a | 4 |
| Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $84,620 | 50,190 | Doctoral Degree | 5 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | 18,940 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,130 | 14,600 | Bachelor's Degree | 3 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | 12,090 | Master's Degree | 5 |
No occupations match these filters.
Data The education column shows a typical entry level only where O*NET data supports one answer. Check the typical education for Natural Sciences Manager, one of the microbiology jobs above.
Data BLS national median annual wage, May 2025. These are pay levels of the occupations, not earnings of graduates.
Data The largest related occupations by employment (postsecondary teaching shown in the explorer).
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Science · Reading Comprehension · Active Listening
Mapped from CIP 26.0502, 26.0503Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
Science · Reading Comprehension · Writing
Mapped from CIP 26.0502, 26.0504Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
Reading Comprehension · Active Listening · Writing
Mapped from CIP 26.0502Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
Reading Comprehension · Active Listening · Science
Mapped from CIP 26.0502, 26.0503Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
Writing · Speaking · Science
Mapped from CIP 26.0503, 26.0504Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
Develop and maintain computerized record management systems to store and process data, such as personnel activities and information, and to produce reports.
Speaking · Critical Thinking · Social Perceptiveness
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 26.0509Data Related occupations grouped by government career field, with their pay range.
Data Other programs whose crosswalk occupations overlap with these.
The NCES/BLS crosswalk relates instructional programs (CIP 2020) to occupations (SOC 2018) when programs in the CIP category typically prepare individuals directly for jobs in the occupation. This page uses the CIP program series below and shows every non-residual occupation mapped to them that has BLS wages and O*NET data; each occupation lists the CIP codes that map to it.
Searches this page answers include “what can you do with a microbiology degree”, “careers with a microbiology degree”, “microbiology degree jobs” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
