- Salary statistics
- Microbiologist salary
Microbiologist salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
42 500 - 50 400 SEK / month
Women earn 100% of what men do.
Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Related tools
Salary progression Microbiologist
What does a Microbiologist do? – Tasks and Work Environment
A Microbiologist primarily works with investigating microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The work may include research, laboratory analysis, quality control, or product development within sectors like pharmaceuticals, food, or environmental industries. A typical work environment consists of laboratories where advanced equipment is used to analyze samples and conduct experiments. Microbiologists often collaborate with other researchers and technicians, working independently or in project teams, sometimes under time pressure and with high demands for accuracy and safety.
Salary development over time
The salary for Microbiologists has shown a steady increase in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 44,700 SEK per month, increasing to 49 100 in 2023 and further to 48 100 in 2024. This represents a total increase of nearly 10% over three years. The salary trend is driven by increased demand for expertise in biotech, pharmaceutical research, and food safety. At the same time, salaries are influenced by education level, experience, and geographic location. Overall, a positive trend is observed for the profession, although variations exist between sectors and employers.
Microbiologist salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 48 100 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 41,600 SEK/month (female, public sector, 3 years post-secondary education)
- Highest salary: 52,100 SEK/month (male, various sectors, unspecified education level)
- Hourly wage: 295 SEK (average, based on 166 working hours/month)
- Gender differences: Women earn 48 000 SEK, men 52,100 SEK – women earn 100% of men's salary
- Regional differences: No detailed statistics available
Education and qualifications
A Microbiologist typically holds an academic degree in microbiology, biology, or related natural sciences. A bachelor's degree is often required, but a master's or higher is common, especially for research-oriented positions. Practical laboratory experience and knowledge of molecular biology techniques are highly meritorious, as is experience with project work and scientific documentation.
- Bachelor's degree in biology/microbiology: 3 years
- Master's degree or equivalent: 5 years (recommended for research roles)
- Laboratory internship/trainee: Often mandatory during education
- Courses in molecular biology, genetics, and statistics: Meritorious
- Prerequisites: Science high school or equivalent
- Tips for choosing: Focus on universities with strong research connections
Microbiologists often have opportunities to work internationally, both in research and industry. Many projects are conducted in collaboration with foreign universities and companies, opening doors for exchange programs and international careers.
Common benefits and compensations
Microbiologists are often offered benefits such as wellness allowances, flexible working hours, professional development, research grants, and occupational pension schemes. In some cases, remote work options are available, especially for analysis and reporting tasks. Employment at universities and in the public sector may include generous vacation policies and further training opportunities.
Competition and challenges
The job market for Microbiologists involves some competition for the most attractive positions, especially within academic research and the pharmaceutical industry. The lack of detailed statistics makes it difficult to precisely assess the competition level, but there are signs of increased demand within biotech, food safety, and environmental analysis. The profession also requires continuous skills development to keep pace with rapid technological advances. Challenges include insecure project-based employment and the need for high specialization in certain roles. According to the Employment Service, no formal forecast exists for the profession due to limited data, but recently there were 143 job openings in the field.
Tips for aspiring Microbiologists
To succeed as a Microbiologist, it is beneficial to have strong analytical skills and a keen interest in scientific questions. Precision is crucial, especially in laboratory work and handling sensitive samples. Good teamwork skills facilitate project collaboration and communication with colleagues from different disciplines. Flexibility and the ability to quickly adopt new methods give you an advantage in a rapidly evolving industry. Curiosity drives you to seek new knowledge and stay updated on research findings. Finally, resilience is important, as research processes can be time-consuming and results may take time to materialize.
Key facts about Microbiologists
- Education level: Academic degree (at least 3 years, often 5 years)
- Work environment: Laboratories, research environments, industry
- Typical work form: Project and team work, sometimes independent
- Demand: Approximately 143 recent job openings in the profession
- Special skills: Molecular biological techniques, laboratory analysis
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, a Microbiologist can advance to specialist roles within laboratories, become project managers for research projects, or take responsibility for quality control and product development in industry. There are also opportunities to work in teaching or consulting, such as laboratory instructors or biotech consultants. Some choose to pursue doctoral studies for an academic career. According to the Employment Service's forecasts, no detailed future assessment exists for Microbiologists, but the general trend in natural sciences indicates stable demand, especially in food, environment, and pharmaceuticals. The number of recent job openings suggests good opportunities for qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions about Microbiologists
- What is the average salary of a Microbiologist?
- The average salary for a Microbiologist is 48 100 SEK per month. - What are the lowest and highest salaries for Microbiologists?
- The lowest reported salary is 41,600 SEK and the highest is 52,100 SEK per month. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 48 000 SEK and men 52,100 SEK, which means women earn 100% of men's salaries. - What education is required to become a Microbiologist?
- A bachelor's degree in biology or microbiology is required, but a master's degree is common for research roles. - What are the future prospects for Microbiologists?
- There is no exact forecast, but about 143 job openings have recently been noted within the profession. - What work environments are most common for Microbiologists?
- Laboratories, universities, research institutes, and industry are most common. - What personal qualities are important in this profession?
- Analytical skills, accuracy, teamwork ability, and curiosity are key qualities.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 42000 kr | 42200 kr | |
| 35-44 | 101% | 47000 kr | 47400 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 51400 kr | 51800 kr |
| 55-64 | 55000 kr | 55700 kr | |
| Snitt | 100% | 47700 kr | 48100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 40800 kr | 41000 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 43800 kr | 43900 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 47600 kr | 47700 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 50000 kr | 50100 kr |
| 65-68 | 121% | 52100 kr | 52100 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 45500 kr | 45700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 40800 kr | 41000 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 43800 kr | 43900 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 47600 kr | 47700 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 50000 kr | 50100 kr |
| 65-68 | 121% | 52100 kr | 52100 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 45500 kr | 45700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 49800 kr | 50500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 49800 kr | 50500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 101% | 46900 kr | 47000 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 52000 kr | 52700 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 47900 kr | 48100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 41600 kr | 41600 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 43900 kr | 44100 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 47900 kr | 48000 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 50900 kr | 50900 kr |
| 65-68 | 121% | 49500 kr | 49500 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 46000 kr | 46100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 41600 kr | 41600 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 43900 kr | 44100 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 47900 kr | 48000 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 50900 kr | 50900 kr |
| 65-68 | 121% | 49500 kr | 49500 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 46000 kr | 46100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 41700 kr | 41900 kr | |
| 35-44 | 101% | 47100 kr | 47600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 51100 kr | 51300 kr |
| Snitt | 100% | 47500 kr | 48000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 40100 kr | 40400 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 43600 kr | 43800 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 47300 kr | 47400 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 49000 kr | 49000 kr |
| 65-68 | 121% | 59900 kr | 59900 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 45100 kr | 45300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 40100 kr | 40400 kr |
| 35-44 | 99% | 43600 kr | 43800 kr |
| 45-54 | 99% | 47300 kr | 47400 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 49000 kr | 49000 kr |
| 65-68 | 121% | 59900 kr | 59900 kr |
| Snitt | 98% | 45100 kr | 45300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 49600 kr | 50400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 49600 kr | 50400 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Microbiologist has the SSYK code 2131, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
-
Leader for Microbiological Laboratory – Karlskoga
Cell and molecular biologists etc.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 00:15 -
Species Protection Expert for Northern Sweden
Cell and molecular biologists etc.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 23:18 -
Aquatic Biologist at Pelagia – All of Norrland
Cell and molecular biologists etc.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 22:38 -
PhD Molecular Biologist at Academic Laboratory
Cell and molecular biologists etc.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 22:22 -
Researcher in Monte Carlo Simulations for Proton Therapy
Cell and molecular biologists etc.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 00:27
Compare salary, work tasks and job outlook in adjacent occupations to find roles with similar skills or pay levels.
-
Average salary: 42 600 SEK/month • Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Plant and animal biologists
Compare with Microbiologist
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 16:52 -
Average salary: 49 400 SEK/month • Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Geologists and geophysicists etc.
Compare with Microbiologist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 05:38 -
Average salary: 67 900 SEK/month • Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Pharmacologists and biomedical scientists
Compare with Microbiologist
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 21:04 -
Average salary: 42 600 SEK/month • Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Plant and animal biologists
Compare with Microbiologist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 03:12 -
Average salary: 48 100 SEK/month • Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Cell and molecular biologists etc.
Compare with Microbiologist
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 23:19 -
Average salary: 49 400 SEK/month • Naturvetenskapligt arbete
Geologists and geophysicists etc.
Compare with Microbiologist
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 05:22
