How to become a microbiologist in Australia
Microbiologists study microscopic forms of life such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
Pay and growth are for the wider life scientists group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the life scientists group are projected to grow 19.8% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Investigates the chemical structure and function of living cells and their isolated components, organs and tissues in humans, animals, plants, and micro-organisms.
- Examines micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, yeast and their enzymes, and uses the knowledge gained to create and develop new, and improve existing, products, materials and processes.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the life scientists group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 92% a degree or higher, 5% a diploma, 0% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria45 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Biomedical Science - Scholars program · Monash, Clayton98.10 Biomedical Science · Monash, Clayton91.05 Biomedical Science (Honours) · RMIT, Bundoora83.45 Biomedical Science · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood80.25 Biomedical Science · RMIT, Bundoora70.30 Biomedical Science · Swinburne, Hawthorn65.10 Biomedical Science (Bachelor) · La Trobe, Albury-Wodonga64.45 Biomedical Science · Federation, Berwick64.15Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma in Biomedical Science · ACU, Melbourne52.60Showing 12 of 45 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT23 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Griffith86.40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · UNE76.50 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Notre Dame75.95 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Southern Cross71.20 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Newcastle70.05 Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) · Canberra63.10 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · ACU58.85Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma in Biomedical Science · ACU52.30 Diploma of Health Science/Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Griffith66.20Showing 11 of 23 matches. Search every course.
Queensland29 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Accelerated) · UniSC, Sunshine Coast90.20 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · UQ, St Lucia80.10 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · UNE, Armidale74.40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Griffith, Gold Coast74.15 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · QUT, Gardens Point70.10 Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences · UniSQ, Toowoomba68.00 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · UniSC, Moreton Bay65.40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · ACU, Brisbane60.20Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma in Biomedical Science · ACU, Brisbane51.65Showing 12 of 29 matches. Search every course.
Western Australia29 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Biological Science and Master of Biological Science · UWA, Perth90.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Biological Science and Master of Biotechnology · UWA, Perth90.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Science (Honours) · Curtin, Perth86.95 Bachelor of Human Sciences and Master of Biomedical Science · UWA, Perth86.10 Bachelor of Biological Science · UWA, Perth80.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Biomedical Science - Albany · UWA, Albany Centre72.90 Bachelor of Biomedical Science · Notre Dame, Fremantle67.55 Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences · Curtin, Perth60.85Showing 8 of 29 matches. Search every course.
Matched on course names, 126 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Investigative, Realistic, Conventional.
From O*NET ratings for "Microbiologists", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a good match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.