### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Biological Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			biological technicians imageBiological technicians gather and prepare biological samples for laboratory analysis.							
						Quick Facts:     Biological Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$51,430     per year
										$24.73     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    81,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,900What Biological Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Biological technicians typically work in laboratories. Most biological technicians work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Biological Technician
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for biological technicians was $51,430 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of biological technicians is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 10,600 openings for biological technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for biological technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of biological technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about biological technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Biological Technicians Do 
            

			Biological techniciansBiological technicians prepare samples for further testing.			
Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.
Duties
Biological technicians typically do the following:
Set up, maintain, and clean laboratory instruments and equipment, such as microscopes, scales, pipets, and test tubes
Gather and prepare biological samples, such as blood, food, and bacteria cultures, for laboratory analysis
Conduct biological tests and experiments
Document their work, including procedures, observations, and results
Analyze experimental data and interpret results
Write reports that summarize their findingsBiological technicians, sometimes called *laboratory assistants*, typically are responsible for doing scientific tests, experiments, and analyses under the supervision of biologists (such as microbiologists) or medical scientists who direct and evaluate their work. Biological technicians use traditional laboratory instruments, advanced robotics, and automated equipment to conduct experiments. They use specialized computer software to collect, analyze, and model experimental data. Some biological technicians, such as those who assist the work of zoologists and wildlife biologists, may collect samples in the field, so they may need the ability to hike rugged terrain or otherwise travel through wilderness areas.
Biological technicians work in many research areas. They may assist medical researchers by administering new medicines and treatments to laboratory animals. They may separate proteins from other cell material, and analyze data from an experiment.
Biological technicians working in a microbiological context typically study living microbes and perform techniques specific to microbiology, such as staining specimens to aid identification.
Biological technicians also may work in private industry and assist in the study of a wide range of topics concerning industrial production. They may test samples in environmental impact studies, or monitor production processes to help ensure that products are not contaminated.
 Work Environment
			Biological techniciansMost biological technicians work in laboratories.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Biological technicians held about 81,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of biological technicians were as follows:
        Scientific research and development services
                28%Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                24Federal government, excluding postal service
                11Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
                10Hospitals; state, local, and private
                8Biological technicians typically work in laboratories and offices, where they conduct experiments and analyze the results under the supervision of biological scientists and medical scientists. Some biological technicians who do fieldwork may be exposed to weather events and wildlife, such as mosquitoes.
Biological technicians must follow strict procedures to avoid contaminating the experiment, themselves, or the environment. Some experiments may involve dangerous organisms or toxic substances.
Biological technicians work together on teams under the direction of biologists or other scientists.
Work Schedules
Most biological technicians work full time and keep regular hours.
 How to Become a Biological Technician

			Biological techniciansMost biological technicians gain laboratory experience while in school.			
To enter the occupation, biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field. Although less common, some positions are available to candidates who have less than a bachelor’s degree.
Education
Biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field, such as physical science or natural resources. Positions are sometimes open to candidates who have less education than a bachelor's degree but have laboratory experience.
Biology programs typically include subfields such as ecology, microbiology, and physiology. In addition to studying biological sciences, students may need to take courses in math and physics, as well as in other sciences. Students need laboratory experience, so science coursework should include a lab component.
Other Experience
Prospective biological technicians should have laboratory experience. In addition to coursework, students may gain laboratory experience during summer internships with prospective employers, such as pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturers, or in university laboratories.
Advancement
Biological technicians may advance to scientist positions, such as microbiologist or biochemist and biophysicist, after a few years of experience working as a technician or after earning a master’s degree or Ph.D. Gaining more experience and higher levels of education often allows biological technicians to move into positions such as natural sciencesmanagers or postsecondary teachers.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Biological technicians need to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision.
***Communication skills.*** Biological technicians must understand and follow the instructions of their managing scientists. They also need to communicate their processes and findings clearly in written reports.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Biological technicians draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.
***Observational skills.*** Biological technicians must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, including the conditions under which the experiment was carried out, the procedures they followed, and the results they obtained.
***Technical skills.*** Biological technicians need to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to adjust equipment to ensure that experiments are conducted properly.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Biological TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Life, physical, and social science technicians$53,700  Biological technicians$51,430  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for biological technicians was $51,430 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,330.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for biological technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
                $64,350Scientific research and development services
                59,040Hospitals; state, local, and private
                50,920Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                49,460Federal government, excluding postal service
                46,090Most biological technicians work full time and keep regular hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Biological TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Biological technicians5%  Life, physical, and social science technicians4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of biological technicians is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 10,600 openings for biological technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for biological and medical research is expected to increase the need for biological technicians. Synthetic biology, a relatively new area of biotechnology, will employ biological technicians to redesign biological systems or living organisms for medical, manufacturing, and agriculture applications. Continued growth in biotechnology research and development projects, such as using cells to deliver drugs within the human body, is expected to support demand for biological technicians.
			

                        Employment projections data for     biological technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Biological technicians**
			19-4021
			81,400
			85,300
			5
			3,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Biological technicians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of biological technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Agricultural and Food Science Technicians**
            Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists.
            Associate's degree
            $47,010**Biochemists and Biophysicists**
            Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $107,460**Chemical Technicians**
            Chemical technicians conduct laboratory tests to help scientists analyze the properties of materials.
            Associate's degree
            $56,750**Environmental Science and Protection Technicians**
            Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health.
            Associate's degree
            $50,660**Epidemiologists**
            Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.
            Master's degree
            $81,390**Forensic Science Technicians**
            Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,940**Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians**
            Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
            Bachelor's degree
            $60,780**Medical Scientists**
            Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $100,890**Microbiologists**
            Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, and fungi.
            Bachelor's degree
            $85,470**Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists**
            Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals, those both in captivity and in the wild, and how they interact with their ecosystems.
            Bachelor's degree
            $70,600
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about career opportunities in the biological sciences, visit
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Society for Cell Biology
American Society for Microbiology
DIYbio
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
To find job openings for biological technicians in the federal government, visit
USAJOBS
CareerOneStop
For a career video on biological technicians, visit
Biological technicians

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Biological Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Biological Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biological-technicians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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