Microbiology & Immunologyat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $36,403/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Microbiology & Immunology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $746K; scenarios range from $646K to $757K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your path in Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at UCLA places you at the heart of cutting-edge research in a major biotech hub. While initial career earnings often reflect the common trajectory for foundational science graduates—many pursue advanced degrees like an MD or PhD, which naturally delays entry into top-tier salaries—the long-term potential here is substantial. The Los Angeles area boasts a robust ecosystem of biopharma companies, major research hospitals like Cedars-Sinai, and numerous innovative startups eager for talent. Your UCLA degree, renowned for its strong research focus, opens doors to these institutions, not just in direct lab roles but also in clinical trials, quality assurance, or even science communication. Regarding AI risk, while automation may streamline some lab processes, the critical thinking, experimental design, and interpretive skills unique to human scientists remain irreplaceable. To maximize your trajectory, proactively seek out research internships early in your undergraduate career to build hands-on skills and crucial industry connections.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Microbiology & Immunology
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Microbiology & Immunology at UCLA
How does University of California-Los Angeles's Microbiology & Immunology program score?
This program scores 56/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Microbiology & Immunology graduates.
How vulnerable is Microbiology & Immunology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Microbiology & Immunology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.