Biological Technicians
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 19-4021.00United States
Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results.
- Median annual earnings
- $57,512
- Projected change
- +8.1%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 76.53K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
63.1% of the workforce
Growing to 82.74K by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What biological technicians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
- Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
- Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
- Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
- Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
- Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
- Input data into databases.
- Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
- Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.
- Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.
- Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
- Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $40,331
- 25th percentile
- $48,131
- 50th percentile
- $57,512
- 75th percentile
- $71,531
- 90th percentile
- $84,947
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $57,512 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+8.1%faster than average
202576,527 jobs
2035 projected82,737 jobs
6,210 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 63.1%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 29.4%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 3.7%
- High school diploma or less
- 1.4%
- Some college
- 1.4%
- Certificate
- 0.9%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Research Associates1,553 postings
- 02Research Assistants1,211 postings
- 03Postdoctoral Research Associates419 postings
- 04Fish and Wildlife Technicians391 postings
- 05Microbiology Technicians322 postings
- 06Biological Science Technicians199 postings
- 07Laboratory Technicians172 postings
- 08Biological Research Technicians138 postings
- 09Laboratory Assistants136 postings
- 10Biological Field Technicians119 postings
- 11Laboratory Research Technicians91 postings
- 12Student Research Assistants81 postings
- 13Wildlife Technicians79 postings
- 14Research Technicians73 postings
- 15Assistant Professors of Research66 postings
- 16Microbiology Technologists66 postings
- 17Graduate Research Assistants62 postings
- 18Neuroscience Research Assistants61 postings
- 19Technicians55 postings
- 20IT Laboratory Assistants45 postings
Top employers
- 01State Of Alaska142 postings
- 02Actalent138 postings
- 03Cedars-Sinai107 postings
- 04University of California94 postings
- 05Pennsylvania State University82 postings
- 06Herc72 postings
- 07Charles River Laboratories71 postings
- 08Rutgers University64 postings
- 09Western Ecosystems Technology59 postings
- 10Analytical Mechanics Associates57 postings
- 11K&A Recruiting57 postings
- 12Rutgers57 postings
- 13Oregon State University56 postings
- 14University of Kansas54 postings
- 15University of Pennsylvania54 postings
- 16University of Miami53 postings
- 17Aya Healthcare50 postings
- 18Texas A&M University50 postings
- 19UT Health50 postings
- 20Washington University in St Louis49 postings
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