Microbiologists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $143,810 or more. The middle half of microbiologists in Portland earn between $75,850 and $102,970.
- $64K10th
- $76K25th
- $90KMedian
- $103K75th
- $144K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,420 | $8,285 | $47.80 |
| Median | $90,460 | $7,538 | $43.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,850 | $6,321 | $36.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,970 | $8,581 | $49.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Microbiologists pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Microbiologists in Portland earn about the same as the Oregon average ($97,510) and about the same as the U.S. average ($97,600). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $87,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $99,420 | $90,460 | $64,220 | $143,810 | 140 |
| Oregon | $97,510 | $89,220 | $65,600 | $141,130 | 170 |
| United States | $97,600 | $87,990 | $54,670 | $150,000 | 18,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Microbiologists salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $99,420, a single filer in Portland takes home about $71,374 a year, or $5,948 a month and $2,745 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $78,772 | $6,564 |
| Working in OR | $71,374 | $5,948 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for microbiologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $99,420 buys what about $94,308 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Microbiologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Seattle, WA$88,310
- Boise, ID$63,380
- Reno, NV$90,620
- Sacramento, CA$123,550
- Santa Rosa, CA$126,450
- Vallejo, CA$125,010
Highest-paying cities for microbiologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($135,860).
- San Francisco, CA$135,860
- Santa Rosa, CA$126,450
- Vallejo, CA$125,010
- San Jose, CA$124,300
- Athens, GA$123,910
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Microbiologists salary in Portland: questions
How much do microbiologists make an hour in Portland?
$47.80 an hour on average, and $43.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the microbiologists take-home pay in Portland?
About $71,374 a year ($5,948 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,420. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do microbiologists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($97,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1022; area Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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