Biological technicians

SOC Code: 19-4021
Also known as:
Aquatic Technician (Aquatic Tech), Aquatics Technician, Artificial Breeding Laboratory Technician (Artificial Breeding Lab Tech), Artificial Breeding Technician, Artificial Inseminator
Median Annual Salary
$52,000
+3.5% growth (2024-2034)
9K
Openings/Year
83K
Current Jobs

What Biological technicians Do

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. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

💰 Salary

$52,000
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+3.5%
As fast as average

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

9K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

82,700

Projected Employment (2034)

85,600

Related Careers

Chemical technicians

$57,790 • +3.7% growth
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Top Skills Required

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Science
Active Learning

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
  • Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
  • Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
  • Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
  • Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
  • 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.

Technology & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Photoshop ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft .NET Framework Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project

📚 Entry-Level Education

Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Biological technicians

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a biological technicians:

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

89,827 degrees awarded • 1,646 colleges offer this program
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Biomedical Sciences, General

11,758 degrees awarded • 301 colleges offer this program
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Neuroscience

11,557 degrees awarded • 332 colleges offer this program
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Biochemistry

9,737 degrees awarded • 591 colleges offer this program
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Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

4,488 degrees awarded • 99 colleges offer this program
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Microbiology, General

2,646 degrees awarded • 107 colleges offer this program
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Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography

2,375 degrees awarded • 84 colleges offer this program
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Zoology/Animal Biology

1,913 degrees awarded • 46 colleges offer this program
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Biostatistics

1,546 degrees awarded • 91 colleges offer this program
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Bioinformatics

1,336 degrees awarded • 97 colleges offer this program
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Best Colleges for Becoming a Biological technicians

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become biological technicians.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 1,188 A+
2 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 1,020 A+
3 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 1,361 A
4 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 1,281 A
5 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 1,196 A
6 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 1,167 A
7 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 1,087 A
8 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 972 A
9 New York University New York, NY 874 A
10 University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA 849 A
11 University of Georgia Athens, GA 751 A
12 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 614 A
13 Boston University Boston, MA 599 A
14 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 562 A
15 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 528 A
16 Emory University Atlanta, GA 523 A
17 Duke University Durham, NC 461 A
18 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA 377 A
19 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 367 A
20 University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 341 A

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do biological technicians make?
The median annual salary for biological technicians is $52,000.
What education do biological technicians need?
Most biological technicians positions require a bachelor's degree. Common degree programs include Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Biomedical Sciences, General, Neuroscience.
Is becoming biological technicians a good career choice?
Biological technicians is projected to see +3.5% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 9,100 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for biological technicians?
Top colleges for aspiring biological technicians include University of California-Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, The University of Texas at Austin, University of California-San Diego, University of Florida. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to biological technicians?
Biological technicians may also be known as: Aquatic Technician (Aquatic Tech), Aquatics Technician, Artificial Breeding Laboratory Technician (Artificial Breeding Lab Tech), Artificial Breeding Technician, Artificial Inseminator, Babcock Tester, Bacteriology Research Assistant, Bacteriology Technician, Biochemistry Technician, Biological Aide, Biological Field Technician (Biological Field Tech), Biological Science Aide, Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Biological Science Lab Tech), Biological Science Technician, Biological Technician, Biologist Aide, Biology Laboratory Assistant, Biology Research Assistant, Biology Specimen Technician, Biomedical Technician. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.