Also called: State Lab Microbiologist
Works in a government lab testing samples during outbreaks—like food poisoning, flu, or measles.
When dozens of people get sick after a festival, runs DNA fingerprinting on bacteria from patients and food to find the source. Shares results with the CDC.
Estimate; government pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in microbiology or medical laboratory science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). Estimate.
Medium risk for 10 years. Automated DNA fingerprinting and AI matching speed outbreak work; running tests in a crisis and accountability stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, Chemistry, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1022.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.