Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between microbiologists and pharmacists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pharmacist has an average salary of $118,968, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a microbiologist include lab equipment, microbiology lab and environmental monitoring. The most important skills for a pharmacist are patients, customer service, and employee development.
| Microbiologist | Pharmacist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,620 | $118,968 |
| Hourly rate | $26.26 | $57.20 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,444 | 50,943 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | 3.67 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
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.
Pharmacists are medical experts who distribute prescribed medications and immunizations to individuals. They are responsible for ensuring the quality of medicines supplied to patients, which should be within the law and prescribing only what is suitable to the condition of the user and provide proper knowledge on how to take them and possible reactions or side effects that may occur. Pharmacists could work in all environments where medications are used, or medication therapy is appraised as part of patients' care plan but most commonly in hospitals, community-based setting, and health systems.
Microbiologists and pharmacists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiologist | Pharmacist | |
| Average salary | $54,620 | $118,968 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $93,000 And $151,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Safeway |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Retail |
There are a few differences between a microbiologist and a pharmacist in terms of educational background:
| Microbiologist | Pharmacist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Biology | Pharmacy |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between microbiologists' and pharmacists' demographics:
| Microbiologist | Pharmacist | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.6% Asian, 20.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |