Careermash
CAREERMASH (EN)FROM BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES →

Microbiologist

Microbiologists and bacteriologists study tiny living things - bacteria, viruses and fungi - to understand disease, keep food safe, and develop medicines. Their discoveries help doctors treat infections and stop new diseases spreading.

Microbiologist

18

Biological Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO18%moving to63%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSD
STARTING PAY£28,000 - £35,000
NO MOATNo physical, legal or personal barrier protects this work from software.
AI helps here, but has not taken over
AI can already do some of this job, but the day-to-day work still leans on a person to decide, check and take responsibility. Nothing formally protects this job though, so the safest move is to keep building the judgement AI cannot yet copy.

Career progression path

Is this the only route?

This is the standard academic trajectory, but modern careers are highly flexible. You can often skip stagesby entering the industry with an advanced qualification (like a Master's or PhD), or pivot sideways from a related discipline.

0ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONUniversity DegreeUsually 3 to 4 years of full-time academic study, explicitly preparing you for the theoretical realities of the industry. Requires A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent Level 3.-£83,910Avg. UK tuition & living
1FIRST STEPJunior MicrobiologistIn this entry-level role, you will assist in laboratory experiments, perform routine analyses, and support senior microbiologists in research projects. You will gain hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and techniques.£28,000 - £35,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level MicrobiologistAs a mid-level microbiologist, you will lead research projects, mentor junior staff, and contribute to the development of new methodologies. Your role will involve more complex analyses and greater responsibility in project management.£40,000 - £55,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Microbiologist/Head of MicrobiologyIn a senior role, you will oversee research teams, drive strategic initiatives, and represent your organisation in scientific forums. You will be responsible for securing funding and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.£70,000+

Recommended UK degrees

Real courses that qualify you for this career, from the same register that priced the degree above.

Doctorate in Microbiology, GeneralThe University of Montana · DoctorateMedical BiochemistrySwansea University · DegreeGraduado o Graduada en BiologíaUniversitat Rovira i Virgili · GradoDoctorate in Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of California-Irvine · DoctorateBachelor's degree in Biology/Biological Sciences, GeneralIowa State University · BachelorGeologíaUniversidad Del Norte · Bachelor
Careermash

Careermash: navigate your career path with real data. Explore career profiles, salary benchmarks, AI impact forecasts, and the qualifications you need to get there.

AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

Part of the Sand Education ecosystem:Spill.orgWhatSchool.aiWhatCareer.netCourseMash.org