Salary data is based on the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area and applied to Redmond using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Microbiologists Salaries in Redmond, WA

Average Base Pay

$76,170/yr

5% below national average

Monthly

$6,348

Hourly

$37

Cost Index

132

Microbiologists in Redmond, WA earn an average of $76,170 per year, with most salaries falling between $60,936 and $91,404 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 5% below the national average, Redmond offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 132. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Redmond.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$57K
Low

$76K
Median

$95K
High

25th percentile: $65K75th percentile: $88K

About Microbiologists

Microbiologists study microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and protozoa—their biology, ecology, and interactions with hosts and environments. Applied microbiologists work in pharmaceutical manufacturing, food safety, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and public health. Clinical microbiologists in hospital laboratories identify pathogens from patient specimens—blood cultures, wound swabs, respiratory samples—and perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing to guide treatment. Industrial microbiologists work in pharmaceutical companies to develop and validate manufacturing processes for vaccines, antibiotics, and biologics, ensuring that products are free from microbial contamination. Food microbiologists develop and validate HACCP-based food safety programs, test products for pathogens, and investigate foodborne illness outbreaks. Environmental microbiologists monitor water and soil for microbial contamination and study microbial communities in natural ecosystems. Research microbiologists investigate fundamental questions about microbial physiology, pathogenesis, evolution, and ecology. The application of genomic tools—next-generation sequencing, metagenomics—has transformed microbiology, enabling culture-independent characterization of microbial communities.

What Microbiologists Do

Culture and identify microorganisms from environmental, clinical, or industrial samples
Perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Conduct sterility testing and environmental monitoring in controlled manufacturing environments
Validate microbiological test methods and equipment
Investigate microbial contamination events and implement corrective actions
Apply genomic and molecular techniques including PCR, sequencing, and metagenomics
Prepare technical reports and regulatory documentation
Conduct or contribute to microbiology research projects

Key Skills & Qualifications

Aseptic technique and microbial culture methods
Microorganism identification including biochemical and molecular methods
PCR, qPCR, and next-generation sequencing
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) microbiology
HACCP and food safety microbiology
Statistical analysis of microbiological data
Technical documentation for regulatory submissions
Biosafety level 2/3 laboratory protocols

Career Path

Microbiology Technician
Microbiologist
Senior Microbiologist
Principal Scientist / Lab Manager
Director of Microbiology / Chief Scientist

Microbiologists Market in Redmond, WA

Salary Competitiveness

Redmond currently pays 5% below the national median for Microbiologists. This gap can reflect a lower regional cost base, thinner employer density, or a surplus of qualified candidates relative to open roles—factors worth factoring into any offer negotiation or relocation calculation.

Cost of Living Impact

The cost of living in Redmond is well above the national average, and essential monthly expenses consume roughly 74% of take-home pay for this role. That compression means a higher gross salary buys less financial breathing room than the headline number suggests—particularly for housing, which tends to dominate the budget in high-cost markets.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Microbiologists earning $76,170 in Redmond operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

-5%

Cost Pressure

74%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$55,604

Monthly

$4,634

Weekly

$1,069

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $76,170 for a Microbiologists in Redmond translates to roughly $4,634 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $3,420—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $1,214 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Redmond's current market.

How far does this salary go in Redmond?

Cost of Living in Redmond

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Redmond, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

132

High — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,967/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$656/mo

🚗Transportation$177/mo

💡Utilities$230/mo

🏥Healthcare$390/mo

Monthly$3,420

Annual$41,040

Disposable Income$1,214

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Redmond to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$4,634

Living Costs

$3,420

Disposable

$1,214

Cost Index

132

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $4,634, your estimated living costs in Redmond are $3,420 ($41,040/yr). This leaves $1,214 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Redmond's cost of living is 32% above the national average.

Overall, a Microbiologists earning $76,170 in Redmond falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 132, Redmond is 32% more expensive than the national average, which compresses real purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Redmond continue to evolve.