Medical science liaison vs microbiologist

The differences between medical science liaisons 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 medical science liaison, becoming a microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.

The top three skills for a medical science liaison include patients, medical affairs and MSL. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.

Medical science liaison vs microbiologist overview

	Medical Science Liaison	Microbiologist
Yearly salary	$145,718	$54,620
Hourly rate	$70.06	$26.26
Growth rate	17%	9%
Number of jobs	57,208	11,444
Job satisfaction	-	3.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	41	40
Years of experience	4	2

What does a medical science liaison do?

A medical science liaison (MSL) is a scientific professional who facilitates a working relationship between healthcare companies and leading physicians, researchers, and clinicians. Also referred to as key opinion leaders (KOL), medical science liaisons represent their company to the decision-makers in the medical community as well as to investors and government regulatory agencies. They analyze clinical trends and monitor the scientific literature for new developments in the medical community. Medical science liaisons also prepare medical samples and data to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, pathogens, and toxicity.

What does a microbiologist do?

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.

Medical science liaison vs microbiologist salary

Medical science liaisons and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Science Liaison	Microbiologist
Average salary	$145,718	$54,620
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $359,000	Between $39,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City	Jackson, TN	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Tennessee	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Saint Luke's Health System	Battelle
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Pharmaceutical

Differences between medical science liaison and microbiologist education

There are a few differences between a medical science liaison and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:

	Medical Science Liaison	Microbiologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Nursing	Biology
Most common college	University of Southern California	Stanford University

Medical science liaison vs microbiologist demographics

Here are the differences between medical science liaisons' and microbiologists' demographics:

	Medical Science Liaison	Microbiologist
Average age	41	40
Gender ratio	Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%	Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	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%

Differences between medical science liaison and microbiologist duties and responsibilities

Medical science liaison example responsibilities.

Supervise and analyze medical necessity review of manage care appeals.
Develop and manage KOLs resulting in presentations to regional, national and international meetings.
Utilize extensive knowledge of medical terminology, ICD-9, HCPCS and CPT coding along with analysis and processing of Medicare claims.
Provide pre-launch field support for a novel diabetes compound.
Provide drug information to medical professionals and sales force within FDA guidelines.
Join Clementine as a trainee BMS and successfully complete training and registration.

Microbiologist example responsibilities.

Establish a DNA fingerprinting lab to aid in bacterial food borne disease investigations and manage it for ten years.
Manage external contract labs for GLP testing, prepare documentation for regulatory approval.
Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
Perform biochemical tests for the detection of communicable disease agents including tuberculosis, HIV, and other sexually transmit diseases.
Receive and log samples in LIMS as well as compiled work batches, QC sheets and data reports.
Utilize various real time PCR and DNA extraction technologies to identify and characterize various biological agents and infectious diseases.

Medical science liaison vs microbiologist skills

Common medical science liaison skills

Patients, 11%
Medical Affairs, 9%
MSL, 7%
Medical Science, 6%
Pharmaceutical Industry, 5%
Internal Stakeholders, 4%

Common microbiologist skills

Lab Equipment, 9%
Microbiology Lab, 7%
Environmental Monitoring, 7%
Test Methods, 6%
GMP, 5%
Laboratory Procedures, 5%

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Medical Science Liaison vs Microbiologist

Updated January 8, 2025

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