Microbiologists
Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
Tasks Include:
- Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, for community environmental health programs and for physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Use a variety of specialized equipment such as electron microscopes, gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters and phosphoimagers.
- Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: +13.7%
National: +13.3%
Education
Post-Doctoral Training
Job Zone:
Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Income Range:
Highest ($50,000 and up)
Average Earnings:
National
$72,030.00
State
$73,460.00
Regional
Microbiologists
Description
| Career Cluster: | Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
|
Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Education
Required Level of Education
- Post-Doctoral Training = 36.36%
- Bachelor's Degree = 36.36%
- Doctoral Degree = 9.09%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree, but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master = 9.09%
- Master's Degree = 4.55%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) = 4.55%
Related Work Experience
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 18.18%
- None = 18.18%
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years = 13.64%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 13.64%
- Over 8 years, up to and including 10 years = 9.09%
- Over 10 years = 9.09%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 9.09%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 9.09%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 22.73%
- Up to and including 1 month = 18.18%
- None = 18.18%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 13.64%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 13.64%
- Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years = 4.55%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 4.55%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 4.55%
On-the-Job Training
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 22.73%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 22.73%
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 22.73%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 13.64%
- None or short demonstration = 9.09%
- Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years = 4.55%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 4.55%
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Prepare technical reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes.
- Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Provide laboratory services for health departments, for community environmental health programs and for physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Use a variety of specialized equipment such as electron microscopes, gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters and phosphoimagers.
- Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
- Study growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms to understand their relationship to human, plant, and animal health.
- Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
- Observe action of microorganisms upon living tissues of plants, higher animals, and other microorganisms, and on dead organic matter.
- Study the structure and function of human, animal and plant tissues, cells, pathogens and toxins.
- Conduct chemical analyses of substances such as acids, alcohols, and enzymes.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
- Develop new products and procedures for sterilization, food and pharmaceutical supply preservation, or microbial contamination detection.
- Research use of bacteria and microorganisms to develop vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids, grain alcohol, sugars, and polymers.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Tools and Technology
Tools Include:
- Electronic multichannel pipetters (8-channel electronic pipettes)
- Spirit burners (Alcohol lamps)
- Anaerobic chamber (Anaerobic growth chambers)
- Analytical balances
- Lasers (Argon lasers)
- Steam autoclaves or sterilizers (Autoclaves)
- Microbiology slide stainers (Automated gram stainers)
- Microbiology analyzers (Automated microbial identification systems)
- Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counters (Automatic cell sorters)
- Automated cover slipping equipment (Automatic coverslipper)
- Robotic or automated liquid handling systems (Automatic pipetters)
- Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators (Bacteriological incubators)
- Dry heat or hot air sterilizers (Bacticinerators)
- Air samplers or collectors (Bioaerosol impactors)
- Safety hoods (Biological safety hoods)
- Microbiology fermentation equipment (Bioreactors)
- Binocular light compound microscopes (Bright field light microscopes)
- Counters (Bubble counters)
- Digital cameras (Charge coupled device CCD color digital cameras)
- Decontamination shower (Chemical safety showers)
- Electronic counters (Colony counters)
- Binocular light compound microscopes (Compound binocular light microscopes)
- Conductivity meters
- Laboratory staining dishes or jars (Coplin jars)
- Tissue culture flasks (Culture bottles)
- Culture tubes
- Developing tanks (Darkroom developing tanks)
- Ultra pure water systems (Deionized DI water systems)
- Deoxyribonucleic sequence analyzers (Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers)
- Benchtop centrifuges (Desktop centrifuges)
- Desktop computers
- Air samplers or collectors (Dichotomous particulate matter samplers)
- Dry wall single chamber carbon dioxide incubators (Direct heat dry wall carbon dioxide CO2 incubators)
- Stereo or dissecting light microscopes (Dissecting microscopes)
- Dissolved oxygen meters
- Dropping pipettes
- Dry baths or heating blocks (Dry bath incubators)
- Drying cabinets or ovens (Drying ovens)
- Steam autoclaves or sterilizers (Electronic sterilizers)
- Electronic toploading balances
- Electroporation cuvettes (Electroporators)
- Microplate readers (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA plate readers)
- Laboratory adapters or connectors or fittings (Erlenmeyer flask clamps)
- Laboratory flasks (Erlenmeyer flasks)
- Eyewashers or eye wash stations (Eyewash fountains)
- Circulating baths (Fecal coliform water baths)
- Fire extinguishers
- Rotating shakers (Floor shakers)
- Microbiology analyzers (Flow cytometers)
- Microbiology analyzers (Fluorescence activated cell sorters)
- Fluorescent microscopes
- Infrared spectrometers (Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers)
- Freeze dryers or lyopholizers (Freeze dryers)
- French pressure cells (French presses)
- Gas chromatographs (Gas chromatographs GC)
- Gas generators (Gas-powered generators)
- Gel documentation systems
- Gel boxes (Gel electrophoresis boxes)
- Gel boxes (Gel support frames)
- Blotting or transfer apparatus (Gel transfer apparatus)
- Laboratory graduated cylinders (Graduated glass laboratory cylinders)
- Electronic encyclopedias (Hardy Diagnostics HUGO)
- Dry baths or heating blocks (Heat blocks)
- Laboratory hotplates (Heating stirplates)
- Lasers (Helium-neon lasers)
- HEPA filtered enclosures (HEPA filtered biosafety cabinets)
- High pressure liquid chromatograph chromatography (High pressure liquid chromatographs HPLC)
- Benchtop centrifuges (High-speed centrifuges)
- Hybridization ovens or incubators (Hybridization ovens)
- Impedance meters
- Infra red or ultra violet absorption analyzers (Infrared gas analyzers)
- Infrared spectrometers (Infrared IR spectrometers)
- Microbiology inoculation loops or needles (Inoculating loops)
- Inverted microscopes
- Laboratory beakers
- Laboratory funnels
- Gas burners (Laboratory gas burners)
- Laboratory washing machines (Laboratory glassware washers)
- Laboratory heat exchange condensers (Laboratory heat exchange condensing devices)
- Laboratory membrane filters (Laboratory membrane filtering devices)
- General purpose refrigerators or refrigerator freezers (Laboratory refrigerators)
- Multipurpose or general test tubes (Laboratory test tubes)
- Laboratory vacuum pumps
- Laminar flow cabinets or stations (Laminar flow cabinets)
- Laser printers
- Liquid chromatographs (Liquid chromatograph devices)
- Air samplers or collectors (Liquid impingers)
- Cryogenic or liquid nitrogen freezers (Liquid nitrogen storage equipment)
- Magnetic stirrers (Magnetic laboratory stirrers)
- Mass spectrometers
- Laboratory membrane filters (Membrane filtration systems)
- Laboratory balances (Micro balances)
- Calorimeters (Microcalorimeters)
- Microcentrifuges
- Automated microscope stages (Micromanipulators)
- Dropping pipettes (Micropipettes)
- Microscope slides
- Infrared spectrometers (Mid-infrared spectrometers)
- Microplate readers (Multiplate readers)
- Air samplers or collectors (Multistage agar impactors)
- General purpose trays (Multiwell trays)
- Notebook computers
- Microscope objectives (Oil-immersion microscope lenses)
- Shaking incubators (Orbital shaking incubators)
- Orbital shaking water baths
- Osmometers
- Peristaltic pumps
- Personal computers
- Petri plates or dishes (Petri dishes)
- pH meters
- Darkfield microscopes (Phase contrast microscopes)
- Photo attachments for microscopes (Photomicroscopes)
- Pipette pumps
- Laboratory balances (Precision pan balances)
- Specialty plates for bacteria (Prepared agar plates)
- Protective gloves
- Protective coats (Protective laboratory coats)
- Spectrometers (Raman spectrometers)
- Pipetter inserts or accessories (Rechargeable electronic pipette fillers)
- Laboratory incubator thermometers (Recording thermometers)
- Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges
- Refrigerated baths (Refrigerated recirculating water baths)
- Respirators
- Laboratory mixers (Rotator mixers)
- Safety glasses
- Safety shoes
- Scanning electron microscopes (Scanning electron microscopes SEM)
- Petri plates or dishes (Sectioned petri plates)
- Blotting or transfer apparatus (Semidry blotting apparatus)
- Laboratory mixers (Serology rotators)
- Shaking incubators
- Ultrasonic disintegrators (Sonicators)
- Laboratory staining dishes or jars (Staining dishes)
- Steam autoclaves or sterilizers (Steroclaves)
- Test tube racks
- Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers (Thermocyclers)
- Homogenizers (Tissue homogenizers)
- Transilluminators
- Transmission electron microscopes (Transmission electron microscopes TEM)
- Ultra cold or ultralow upright cabinets or freezers (Ultra cold biological freezers)
- Ultracentrifuges
- Ultraviolet UV lamps
- Spectrometers (Visible spectrometers)
- Spectrophotometers (Visible/UV light scanning spectrophotometers)
- Vortex mixers
- Ultra pure water systems (Water purification systems)
- Specimen collectors (Water sample collection containers)
- X ray diffraction equipment (X ray diffractometers)
Technologies Include:
- Analytical or scientific software
- Assistant Software for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Interpretation ASASI
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- BD Biosciences CellQuest
- BD Biosciences CloneCyt
- Bruker Optics OPUS
- BtB Software Mycobacteriology Lab
- Codon Usage Database
- Computing Solutions LabSoft LIMS Micro
- DNA sequence analysis software
- FindTarget
- FramePlot
- Gene Finder
- Gene recognition software
- Genie Interactive
- Image capture and analysis software
- Laboratory information management system LIMS software
- NetLims AutoLims
- Pathogen Modeling Program PMP
- PHYLIP
- PIBWin
- PredictProtein
- Proscan
- Protein databases
- Protein Explorer
- ProtScale
- STARLIMS
- Statistical software
- TreeView
- Verity Software House ModFit LT
- Data base user interface and query software
- Database management software
- WHONET
- Electronic mail software
- Email software
- Information retrieval or search software
- ComBase
- Internet browser software
- Web browser software
- Medical software
- Computer Service & Support CLS-2000 Laboratory System
- Orchard Software Orchard Harvest LIS
- Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Word
- Word processing software
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Special Requirements
For More Information, Contact:
American Society Of Microbiology
1752 N Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-2904
Phone: 202.737.3600
http://www.asm.org/
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research.
Microbiologists
Additional Resources
For information on careers in the biological sciences, contact:
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Suite 200
1444 I St. NW.
Washington, DC 20005
http://www.aibs.org
For information on careers in physiology, contact:
American Physiological Society
Education Office
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
http://www.the-aps.org
For information on careers in biochemistry or biological sciences, contact:
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
http://www.faseb.org
For a brochure entitled Is a Career in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Right for Me, contact:
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
2107 Wilson Blvd.
Suite #700
Arlington, VA 22201
http://www.aaps.org/sciaffairs/careerinps.htm
For information on careers in microbiology, contact:
American Society for Microbiology
Office of Education and Training-Career Information
1325 Massachusetts Ave. NW.
Washington, DC 20005
http://asm.org/
Information on obtaining a biological or medical scientist position with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through a telephone-based system. Consult your telephone directory under U.S. Government for a local number or call (912) 757-3000; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339 The first number is not tollfree and charges may result.
Information also is available from the OPM Internet site:
http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs1900/1980b.htm
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research.
Microbiologists
Knowledge
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 96.50 | Biology | Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
| 73.75 | English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
| 70.25 | Chemistry | Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. |
| 62.00 | Mathematics | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| 60.25 | Education and Training | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
| 60.25 | Medicine and Dentistry | Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
| 55.75 | Administration and Management | Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| 51.25 | Computers and Electronics | Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Skills
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 87.50 | Science | Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
| 78.00 | Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| 75.00 | Writing | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| 72.00 | Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
| 72.00 | Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| 68.75 | Active Learning | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| 65.50 | Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| 62.50 | Learning Strategies | Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
| 62.50 | Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| 62.50 | Judgment and Decision Making | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| 59.50 | Complex Problem Solving | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| 56.25 | Time Management | Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
| 56.25 | Systems Analysis | Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
| 56.25 | Management of Personnel Resources | Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. |
| 56.25 | Instructing | Teaching others how to do something. |
| 56.25 | Mathematics | Using mathematics to solve problems. |
| 56.25 | Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| 53.00 | Systems Evaluation | Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. |
| 50.00 | Operations Analysis | Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design. |
| 50.00 | Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Abilities
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 81.25 | Inductive Reasoning | The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
| 78.00 | Written Comprehension | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
| 75.00 | Category Flexibility | The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
| 75.00 | Information Ordering | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
| 75.00 | Deductive Reasoning | The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
| 72.00 | Problem Sensitivity | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| 72.00 | Written Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
| 68.75 | Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
| 68.75 | Flexibility of Closure | The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
| 68.75 | Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
| 68.75 | Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
| 65.50 | Fluency of Ideas | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). |
| 62.50 | Selective Attention | The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
| 62.50 | Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| 59.50 | Originality | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. |
| 59.50 | Perceptual Speed | The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. |
| 59.50 | Number Facility | The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. |
| 59.50 | Mathematical Reasoning | The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. |
| 59.50 | Finger Dexterity | The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. |
| 56.25 | Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
| 56.25 | Visualization | The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. |
| 53.00 | Visual Color Discrimination | The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness. |
| 50.00 | Far Vision | The ability to see details at a distance. |
| 50.00 | Speed of Closure | The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns. |
| 50.00 | Arm-Hand Steadiness | The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Work Activities
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 91.75 | Documenting/Recording Information | Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| 91.00 | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| 88.75 | Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| 88.75 | Analyzing Data or Information | Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| 85.25 | Processing Information | Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| 85.25 | Making Decisions and Solving Problems | Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| 84.00 | Thinking Creatively | Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| 79.50 | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| 79.50 | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work | Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| 79.50 | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| 78.50 | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| 78.50 | Interacting With Computers | Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| 75.00 | Training and Teaching Others | Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| 73.75 | Developing Objectives and Strategies | Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| 71.50 | Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings | Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| 70.50 | Coaching and Developing Others | Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
| 70.50 | Communicating with Persons Outside Organization | Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| 69.25 | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards | Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| 69.25 | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| 67.00 | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates | Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
| 65.50 | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others | Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
| 63.75 | Scheduling Work and Activities | Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| 62.50 | Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information | Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| 61.25 | Provide Consultation and Advice to Others | Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
| 60.25 | Developing and Building Teams | Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
| 60.25 | Performing Administrative Activities | Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
| 58.00 | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material | Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| 58.00 | Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People | Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| 56.75 | Monitoring and Controlling Resources | Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |
| 52.25 | Staffing Organizational Units | Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization. |
| 52.25 | Controlling Machines and Processes | Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| 51.25 | Handling and Moving Objects | Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Work Styles
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 88.75 | Analytical Thinking | Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. |
| 87.50 | Attention to Detail | Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
| 85.25 | Integrity | Job requires being honest and ethical. |
| 81.00 | Dependability | Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
| 80.75 | Initiative | Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
| 79.75 | Persistence | Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
| 78.50 | Achievement/Effort | Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
| 75.00 | Adaptability/Flexibility | Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| 75.00 | Innovation | Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
| 71.50 | Cooperation | Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
| 70.50 | Stress Tolerance | Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. |
| 68.25 | Independence | Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
| 67.00 | Leadership | Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| 66.00 | Self Control | Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
| 53.50 | Concern for Others | Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Work Values
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 72.17 | Recognition | Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. |
| 66.67 | Achievement | Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
| 66.67 | Independence | Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
| 61.17 | Working Conditions | Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. |
| 55.50 | Relationships | Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
| 50.00 | Support | Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Work Context
| % | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 96.40 | Electronic Mail | How often do you use electronic mail in this job? |
| 95.40 | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
| 95.20 | Face-to-Face Discussions | How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
| 95.00 | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
| 92.40 | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? |
| 89.60 | Telephone | How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? |
| 85.40 | Freedom to Make Decisions | How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
| 83.60 | Exposed to Disease or Infections | How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections? |
| 83.60 | Structured versus Unstructured Work | To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? |
| 83.60 | Contact With Others | How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
| 82.80 | Work With Work Group or Team | How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
| 82.00 | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety | How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? |
| 78.00 | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? |
| 75.20 | Letters and Memos | How often does the job require written letters and memos? |
| 73.60 | Time Pressure | How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
| 73.00 | Coordinate or Lead Others | How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
| 72.80 | Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions? |
| 72.40 | Level of Competition | To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? |
| 70.00 | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results | How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? |
| 67.60 | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company? |
| 67.20 | Consequence of Error | How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? |
| 67.20 | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? |
| 66.40 | Spend Time Sitting | How much does this job require sitting? |
| 65.80 | Frequency of Decision Making | How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
| 61.00 | Public Speaking | How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job? |
| 60.00 | Physical Proximity | To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
| 57.20 | Exposed to Contaminants | How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? |
| 56.40 | Spend Time Standing | How much does this job require standing? |
| 55.40 | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | How much does this job require making repetitive motions? |
| 51.80 | Degree of Automation | How automated is the job? |
| 51.80 | Deal With External Customers | How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Overall Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Job Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
- Examples
- These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, wildlife biologists, school psychologists, surgeons, treasurers, and controllers.
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Earnings Benefits
| Region | Entry Level | Average | Experienced |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $39,380.00 | $71,720.00 | $115,700.00 |
| Virginia | $35,760.00 | $73,460.00 | $132,020.00 |
| Region | Entry Level | Average | Experienced |
| Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Capital Region Workforce Partnership | $32,131.83 | $56,946.68 | $75,892.74 |
| Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Greater Peninsula | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Hampton Roads | $37,361.72 | $71,551.23 | $143,249.51 |
| New River/Mt. Rogers | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington | $51,343.59 | $91,023.62 | $131,082.94 |
| Piedmont Workforce | $40,972.04 | $55,410.27 | $74,542.93 |
| Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Western Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.
Microbiologists
Employment Projections
| National | 2010 | 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 20,300 | 22,900 | + 13.3% |
| State | 2008 | 2018 | % Change |
| Virginia | 373 | 424 | + 13.7% |
| Region | 2008 | 2018 | % Change |
| Bay Consortium | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Capital Region Workforce Partnership | 39 | 38 | - 2.6% |
| Central VA/Region2000 | 12 | 11 | - 8.3% |
| Crater Area | 2 | 2 | + 0.0% |
| Greater Peninsula | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Hampton Roads | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| New River/Mt. Rogers | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington | 353 | 298 | - 15.6% |
| Piedmont Workforce | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Shenandoah Valley | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| South Central | 2 | 2 | + 0.0% |
| Southwestern Virginia | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| West Piedmont | 1 | 1 | + 0.0% |
| Western Virginia | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Workforce Connection.
Microbiologists
Related Occupations
Related Occupations
- Biologists
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Food Science Technicians
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Careers in Science and Math Pathway:
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Water Resource Specialists
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists
- Geographic Information Systems Technicians
- Mathematicians
- Statisticians
- Biostatisticians
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Microbiologists
- Biological Scientists, All Other
- Bioinformatics Scientists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Geneticists
- Conservation Scientists
- Park Naturalists
- Life Scientists, All Other
- Astronomers
- Physicists
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists
- Chemists
- Materials Scientists
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Industrial Ecologists
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
- Hydrologists
- Physical Scientists, All Other
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
- Environmental Economists
- Survey Researchers
- Anthropologists and Archeologists
- Anthropologists
- Archeologists
- Geographers
- Historians
- Political Scientists
- Agricultural and Food Science Technicians
- Agricultural Technicians
- Food Science Technicians
- Biological Technicians
- Chemical Technicians
- Nuclear Technicians
- Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
- Quality Control Analysts
- Remote Sensing Technicians
- Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Bioinformatics Technicians
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
View Videos
The following videos are available for this occupation:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (4.20 Mb)
- Microbiologists (4.39 Mb)
Macromedia Flash is required for viewing the videos. If you do not have the Flash plugin, it is freely available for download.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.
Microbiologists
Military Training
The following military job classifications are available for this occupation:
- Biomedical Laboratory Services
- Microbiology
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center.
Microbiologists
Proficiency Ratings
These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Titles
- Bacteriologist
- Chemist
- Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Clinical Microbiologist
- Cytologist
- Electron Microscopist
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Microbiologist
- Medical Technologist
- Microbiological Analyst
- Microbiological Laboratory Technician
- Microbiologist
- Microbiology Analyst
- Microbiology Laboratory Director
- Microbiology Laboratory Manager
- Microscopist
- Mycobacteria and Brucella Laboratory Head
- Physical Scientist
- Professor of Microbiology
- Public Health Microbiologist
- Public Health Microbiology Laboratory Director
- Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist)
- Study Director
- Virologist
- Virology Director
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Microbiologists
Related Schools
- Arizona State University
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Bellarmine University
- Belmont University
- Benedictine University
- Boston University
- Brigham Young University-Provo
- California Institute of Technology
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- California State University-Chico
- California State University-Long Beach
- California State University-Los Angeles
- Central Connecticut State University
- Centre College
- Cerritos College
- Claremont McKenna College
- Clemson University
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- Cornell College
- Cornell University
- Dickinson College
- Drexel University
- Duke University
- Duquesne University
- Emporia State University
- Florida Southern College
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Georgia Health Sciences University
- Grand Valley State University
- Hardin-Simmons University
- Harding University
- Harvard University
- Hendrix College
- Hope College
- Howard University
- Idaho State University
- Indiana University-Bloomington
- Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German
- Iowa State University
- Kansas State University
- Kent State University at Kent
- Lebanon Valley College
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Loyola University-Chicago
- Marquette University
- McPherson College
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Miami University-Oxford
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Technological University
- Middlebury College
- Mills College
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Montana State University-Billings
- Muskingum University
- New York University
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus
- Northern Arizona University
- Northern Michigan University
- Northwestern University
- Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Ohio University-Main Campus
- Ohio Wesleyan University
- Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Oregon State University
- Pennsylvania State University-College of Medicine
- Polytechnic Institute of New York University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rhodes College
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- San Diego State University
- San Jose State University
- Seton Hall University
- Simmons College
- South Dakota State University
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Stanford University
- SUNY at Fredonia
- Texas A & M University-College Station
- Texas State University-San Marcos
- Texas Tech University
- The College of Wooster
- The University of Alabama
- The University of Montana
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- The University of Texas at Austin
- The University of Texas at El Paso
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Tulane University of Louisiana
- Universidad Del Este
- Universidad Metropolitana
- University at Buffalo
- University of Akron Main Campus
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Arizona
- University of California-Berkeley
- University of California-Davis
- University of California-Irvine
- University of California-Riverside
- University of California-San Diego
- University of California-Santa Barbara
- University of Chicago
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
- University of Connecticut
- University of Georgia
- University of Hawaii at Manoa
- University of Houston-Downtown
- University of Idaho
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Iowa
- University of Kansas
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- University of Maine
- University of Maryland-Baltimore
- University of Maryland-Baltimore County
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts-Boston
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan-Dearborn
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- University of New Haven
- University of North Texas
- University of Northern Iowa
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
- University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- University of Puerto Rico-Humacao
- University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
- University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences
- University of Rhode Island
- University of Rochester
- University of South Carolina-Columbia
- University of Southern California
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- University of the District of Columbia
- University of the Sciences
- University of Vermont
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- University of Wyoming
- Vanderbilt University
- Wagner College
- Washington & Jefferson College
- Washington State University
- Wayne State University
- Weber State University
- West Virginia University
- Whitman College
- William Jewell College
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- Yale University
- Yeshiva University