Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between forensic scientists and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a forensic scientist, becoming a microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a forensic scientist has an average salary of $71,351, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a forensic scientist include laboratory equipment, physical evidence and analytical procedures. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Forensic Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $71,351 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $34.30 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 43,335 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Forensic scientists work as experts in collecting evidence, analyzing evidence collected at crime scenes, and communicating with law enforcement. They can work as a lab manager and detective. They are responsible for ensuring that tests are performed correctly and ethically without any bias. They obtain evidence at the crime scene, making reports of the findings, examining the evidence in the lab if the evidence collected is relevant or not, and testifying in court. They report to superiors the findings of the analysis.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Forensic scientists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forensic Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $71,351 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $112,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lincoln, NE | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Alere | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a forensic scientist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Forensic Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between forensic scientists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Forensic Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |