Microbiologists pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $183,470 or more. The middle half of microbiologists in Modesto earn between $51,240 and $179,490.
- $51K10th
- $51K25th
- $59KMedian
- $179K75th
- $183K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,370 | $8,531 | $49.22 |
| Median | $59,470 | $4,956 | $28.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,240 | $4,270 | $24.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $179,490 | $14,958 | $86.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Microbiologists salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $102,370, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $75,419 a year, or $6,285 a month and $2,901 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for microbiologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $102,370 buys what about $98,331 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Microbiologists salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 7th of 11 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($135,860).
- San Francisco$135,860
- Santa Rosa$126,450
- Vallejo$125,010
- San Jose$124,300
- Sacramento$123,550
- San Diego$103,650
- Modesto$102,370
- Fresno$101,640
- Riverside$101,600
- Los Angeles$101,560
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 Modesto: questions
How much do microbiologists make an hour in Modesto?
$49.22 an hour on average, and $28.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the microbiologists take-home pay in Modesto?
About $75,419 a year ($6,285 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,370. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do microbiologists earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($101,104).
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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.9%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.50, this job is 3.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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