AI Career Radar

Microbiologists

Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.

AI exposure43 / 100Moderate exposure

Based on O*NET work context for this occupation. This score does not predict individual job losses.

What drives the score

Automation and repetition raise exposure; freedom to set tasks lowers it. Each measure uses a 0–100 scale.

Degree of automation38
Freedom to set tasks73
Repeating the same tasks67
$87,990Median annual wage, U.S.BLS OEWS
+6.2%Jobs, 2025 to 2035 (faster than average)BLS Employment Projections
67Skill durability (moderate)Transferability, out of 100

How well your skills transfer

Each skill is scored on how well it transfers into occupations that are growing and less exposed. The ones high on both importance and transfer are worth deepening.

Highest transferability first

Both scores out of 100

Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Critical Thinking
63
75
Active Listening
63
72
Speaking
63
72
Judgment and Decision Making
63
69
Monitoring
63
66
Active Learning
62
72
Complex Problem Solving
62
66
Coordination
62
50
Reading Comprehension
61
78
Time Management
61
50
Show 25 more skills
Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Writing
60
75
Social Perceptiveness
60
50
Learning Strategies
58
66
Instructing
58
50
Systems Analysis
57
50
Service Orientation
56
50
Systems Evaluation
56
47
Persuasion
54
41
Mathematics
53
53
Science
52
91
Negotiation
52
41
Management of Personnel Resources
50
50
Operations Analysis
49
47
Installation
48
0
Quality Control Analysis
47
47
Management of Financial Resources
47
31
Management of Material Resources
47
28
Troubleshooting
47
25
Technology Design
47
22
Equipment Selection
47
19
Equipment Maintenance
47
0
Operations Monitoring
46
44
Repairing
46
0
Programming
45
22
Operation and Control
43
38

Compare how well you can use each skill in growing, low-exposure occupations with its importance in your current role. How we score skills.

Jobs you could move to

Compare related occupations by skill overlap, retraining effort, pay and projected growth. Choose a priority to adjust the ranking. Licensing requirements may limit some routes.

95/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$132,300
10-yr growth
+41%
Skill gap
9%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Persuasion

88/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,880
10-yr growth
+21.1%
Skill gap
6%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Active Listening

87/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$129,180
10-yr growth
+21%
Skill gap
7%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Systems Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Quality Control Analysis

87/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,880
10-yr growth
+21.1%
Skill gap
8%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Persuasion, Negotiation

#5VeterinariansHealthcare
84/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$130,100
10-yr growth
+9.4%
Skill gap
4%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Service Orientation, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving

83/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$166,570
10-yr growth
+9.7%
Skill gap
6%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Persuasion, Systems Analysis, Negotiation, Systems Evaluation

A second source of income, before you need it

This page can tell you where Microbiologists could go and what the move costs. The other route is not a move at all: something small of your own, running alongside the job, started while there is no pressure on it.

Where to learn the missing half: Google Career Certificates for systems analysis · active learning, LinkedIn Learning for writing · speaking, edX for mathematics · reading and PlanetNoCode for complex problem solving. Some of those are affiliate links. It never changes what we list.

Snapshot: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035. Scoring v2.1.0-onet-31.0. Method on the how it works page.