Microbiologists vs Chemical Technicians
Median pay is about $28k higher for Microbiologists. The usual entry education is doctoral for Microbiologists and associate's for Chemical Technicians.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Microbiologists | Chemical Technicians |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $87,990, higher | $60,390 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $67,100, higher | $48,530 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $122,350, higher | $75,900 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +6.2% Growing fast, higher | +4.9% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 1,500 | 7,600 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 3 / 5 | 2.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 66th pct | 48th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Microbiologists
- Speaking
Only Chemical Technicians
- Monitoring
Both lean on science, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, active listening.
More comparisons
Compare Microbiologists with
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.