Microbiology, the field of biological science devoted to the study of microorganisms, drew much attention in the recent past, thanks to its application in the health sector, agriculture, environmental protection, and industries. Within Nigeria, as in other countries of the world, there is a pessimistic view of the increasing demand for microbiologists, which is explained by the need for enhanced health care, food safety, and environmental management.
Continue reading to know the detailed account of the microbiologists salaries in Nigeria as of 2024, with an emphasis on establishing the highest and lowest paid field of specialization in this profession.
Also read: What Is The Job Description Of An Embryologist?
Overview of the Microbiologist Profession in Nigeria
Microbiologists in Nigeria operate in several environments like hospitals, research centers, universities, drug industries, food and beverage precincts, and environmental agencies. Their principal duties involve research work, sample analysis, and formulation of strategies to manage or eradicate pathogens and other microorganisms.
The salaries of microbiologists in Nigeria depend on several variables such as the area of specialization, educational qualification, working experiences, and the employing organization.
Highest Paying Fields for Microbiologists in Nigeria
Pharmaceutical Industry:
One area of employment that remains one of the best-paying for microbiologists in Nigeria is the pharmaceutical industry.
The pharmaceutical industries need the services of microbiologists for such purposes as new drug development and product quality control, safety assessment, and efficacy of their products.
For example, microbiologists working in the pharmaceutical industry usually earn between ₦6,500,000 – ₦12,000,000 per annum which is the highest-paying field. Their main responsibility is to maintain the regulation and safety of pharmaceutical products.
Oil and Gas Industry:
While it is not normally an area associated with microbiologists, the oil and gas sector in Nigeria recruits microbiologists for activities like bioremediation, corrosion protection, and process integrity management.
Due to the high profitability of the industry, microbiologists working in this sector are often paid better.
For example, microbiologists in the oil and gas sectors have average salaries of ₦5,500,000 – ₦10,000,000 annually.
Biotechnology Research Institutions:
Biotechnology institutes, as well as research institutions, are some of the highest-paying employers for microbiologists. These organizations place a background on research and development in emerging fields like genetic engineering, microbial genomics, and bioprocessing.
Microbiologists in such institutes are most of the time engaged in highly rewarding and pioneering work
Research institutions on the other hand pay their microbiologists between ₦4,500,000 – ₦8,000,000
Food and Beverage Industry
Microbiologists in the food and beverage industries play an important role in food safety and quality.
They also try to prevent food-related diseases and where they do occur, they test the affected products for contamination. Though the earning potentials may differ, microbiologists in this field can have good salaries of between ₦2,500,000 – ₦3,000,000 yearly.
Lowest Paying Fields for Microbiologists in Nigeria
Educational Institutions
In comparison with those in the private business sector, microbiologists in universities and colleges often have lower financial remuneration. Even though these jobs provide stability and chances for career advancement in academia, the payment is however usually not as attractive.
Average Salary: In the school setup, microbiologists are usually paid a range of about₦150,000 to ₦300,000 per month.
This may be higher for senior lecturers or professors but such job roles need appropriate higher education and years in practice.
Government Health Agencies
Salaries for microbiologist positions working in government health agencies are quite lower compared to those in the private sector. Such jobs are attractive,’’ but there usually are relocation allowances and pension’,’ they have base salaries that can often be quite small.
Average Salary: Government health agencies cite a salary range of ₦150,000 to ₦350,000 per month. The payment is likely to depend on the level of the individual staff and the type of agency.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Microbiologists may find work in NGOs that are involved in projects regarding health, the environment, and the development of communities. These jobs can, however, be rewarding in terms of the social good they seek to achieve, the remuneration associated with them is often lower than the private sector.
Average Salary: Most NGO salaries tend to be between₦100,000 and ₦250,000 per month, with a few exceptions. Bigger NGOs or more well-financed projects may provide higher-paying positions.
Agricultural Sector
Microbiologists who are associated with agriculture such as those who deal with soil microbes or crop protection might not attract very high levels of earnings when compared with microbiologists in other industries.
It is common for this industry to suffer shortages that will limit the level of pay.
Average Salary: A microbiologist working in the agricultural industry earns approximately ₦150,000 to ₦300,000 per month.
Workers in higher management or with a specialization would earn a little bit higher.
Factors Influencing Microbiologist Salaries in Nigeria
Several variables can be considered as reasons for the disparity in microbiologist salary pay in Nigeria. These include:
Experience: Senior microbiologists who possess a greater level of experience and expertise tend to earn more than less experienced microbiologists.
Education and Qualifications: Employers are ready to pay better salaries for higher educational levels and professional certifications. Microbiologists with higher education levels for example Master’s degree Ph.D. stand a better chance of earning more than those possessing only bachelors.
Location: Different regions may have different average salaries for similar occupations. Salaries paid to microbiologists based in big cities or high-cost housing areas tend to be higher than salaries paid to microbiologists based in towns or rural areas.
Industry: Salaries are influenced by a microbiologist’s area of specialization. Microbiologists’ salaries in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or research work are higher compared to public health or academia.
Employer: Salary may also depend on the type of institution that has employed the individual. This is because bigger organizations or institutions with better benefits in terms of revenue may pay more than other smaller institutions.
Negotiation Skills: This is a factor that can help them earn more pay. Most microbiologists in employment do not know their market value, therefore cannot negotiate for better salaries.
Salary Ranges for Microbiologists in Nigeria 2024
Because of the points mentioned earlier, it is pertinent to state that the salary ranges for microbiologists in Nigeria can indeed differ. Nonetheless, here are some approximate salary ranges based on the data available from several sources like Glassdoor, and mysalaryscale
Entry-level Microbiologists: ₦100,000 – ₦350,000 per month
Microbiologists who are at the mid-level with a work experience of 3-5 years: ₦400,000 – ₦600,000 per month
Senior Microbiologists with a work experience of 6 years and above: ₦700,000 – ₦1,000,000 per month
Highly specialized microbiologists in high-demand fields: ₦1,200,000 or more per month
Conclusion
Microbiologists Salaries in Nigeria 2024 vary considerably due to the field of employment, level of experience, location of industry, and level of education.
Salaries within the pharmaceutical sector are on top, while those within academia and government laboratories are the least rewarding. All these aspects are useful in helping specialists find jobs and employers create competitive salaries.
FAQs- Microbiologists Salaries in Nigeria 2024: Highest & Lowest Fields
How much is Microbiology paid in Nigeria?
Microbiologists earn differently in Nigeria due to factors such as type of industry, location, and experience of the microbiologist. On average, microbiologists in Nigeria earn between N100,000 to N1,200,000 monthly.
Which field in Microbiology has highest salary?
Quality control microbiologists are the highest-paying positions in the field of microbiology in Nigeria. Their role is essential in order to guarantee the quality and safety of products in industries such as the pharmaceutical industry, the food and beverage industry, and others.
Is Microbiology in demand in Nigeria?
Yes, microbiologists are in high demand in Nigeria because they are needed in several industries.
What is the lowest salary of a microbiologist?
Entry-level Microbiologists without experience earn the lowest salaries in the industry which is about ₦100,000 – ₦350,000 per month.