All species in this genus are Gram-positive obligate aerobes that are rods during exponential growth and cocci in their stationary phase.

Arthrobacter can be grown on mineral salts pyridone broth, where colonies have a greenish metallic center on incubated at 20 °C (68 °F).

In industrial applications, Arthrobacter is often grown with low-cost sugar sources such as cane or beet molasses, starch hydrolysates from corn or cassava tubers, or tapioca.

A. crystallopoietes and A. chlorophenolicus have been shown to reduce hexavalent chromium and 4-chlorophenol levels in contaminated soil, suggesting they may be useful for bioremediation.

H65-7 produces the enzyme inulase II that converts inulin into the medically relevant nutrient difructose anhydride.