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Biological Technician

Overview and Key Facts

woman in lab
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$52,000
Job Growth
Job Growth
3.50%
(US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
85,600

What Do They Do?

A biological technician could...

 
petri dish with bacteria
Help confirm water contamination by investigating the quantity and types of bacteria in each sample.
neon plant
Grow a plant that expresses green fluorescent protein under stress to see how quickly drought affects crops.
mice study
Administer doses of a new tumor-suppressing drug to mice in a pharmaceutical study.
test tubes
Run protein gels from samples of genetically modified foods to see how the modifications affect certain proteins.
 
petri dish with bacteria neon plant mice study test tubes

Overview Listen to this section

What do the sequencing of the human genome, the annual production of millions of units of life-saving vaccines, and the creation of new drought-tolerant rice varieties have in common? They were all accomplished through the hard work of biological technicians. Scientists may come up with the overarching plans, but the day-to-day labor behind biotechnology advances is often the work of skilled biological technicians.
Watch this video of a biological technician's typical work day. Keisha Hines-Harris was one of the biological technicians who helped sequence the human genome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7E05obQD30

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Biological Technician?


  1. Reading Comprehension: ?
  2. Critical Thinking: ?
  3. Active Listening: ?
  4. Science: ?
  5. Active Learning: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Biological Technician might do:
  • 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.
  • Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
  • Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Biological Technician Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Biological Technician jobs (3.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Biological Technician

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Prospective biological technicians can acquire good career preparation through 2-year formal training programs that combine the teaching of scientific principles and theory with practical hands-on application in a laboratory setting with up-to-date equipment. Graduates of 4-year bachelor's degree programs in science who have considerable experience in laboratory-based courses, have completed internships, or held summer jobs in laboratories, are also well-qualified for science technician positions and are preferred by some employers.

Technicians usually begin work as trainees in routine positions, under the direct supervision of a scientist or a more-experienced technician. Job candidates whose training or educational background encompasses extensive hands-on experience with a variety of laboratory equipment, including computers and related equipment, usually require a short period of on-the-job training. As they gain experience, technicians take on more responsibility and carry out assignments under only general supervision, and some eventually become supervisors. However, technicians employed at universities often have their fortunes tied to particular professors; when professors retire or leave, these technicians face uncertain employment prospects.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Persons interested in careers as science technicians should take as many high school science and math courses as possible. Further education is necessary after high school, but there are several options. Many employers are satisfied with applicants who have at least 2 years of specialized training or an associate's degree in applied science or science-related technology. Other employers prefer to hire technicians who have a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or a related laboratory science. Post high school education should focus heavily on lab work and biotechnology applications.

Companies That Hire Biological Technicians

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Nikki Carter, a research associate at Cubist Pharmaceuticals who is helping to find the next generation of antibiotics.
Some of the bacteria we are trying to make antibiotics for are ones that are found in hospitals that are resistant to current antibiotics; these are sometimes called Superbugs. Finding new ways to treat... Superbugs is really important. 
Nikki Carter, Research Associate
Read this interview with Peggy Hall, a biological technician at the National Human Genome Research Institute.
My typical workday involves constructing a deoxribonucleic acid (or DNA) library. It is a way of taking a long string of DNA and breaking it up into small pieces, which we can study further. This is just one step... to do large scale DNA sequencing. 
Peggy Hall
Meet Jason Sacks, a biological technician at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
I chose to become a biological technician because my advanced biology course in high school sparked my interest in the field of biology. It was the first time I learned about the science and physiology of the human body. 
Jason Sacks

Nature of the Work

Biological technicians work with biologists to study living organisms. Many assist scientists who conduct medical research—helping to find a cure for cancer or AIDS, for example. Those who work in pharmaceutical companies help develop and manufacture medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations. Those working in the field of microbiology generally work as lab assistants, studying living organisms and infectious agents. Biological technicians also analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs, and some examine evidence in a forensic science laboratory. Biological technicians working in biotechnology labs use the knowledge and techniques gained from basic research by scientists, including gene splicing and recombinant DNA, and apply them in product development.

Technicians set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments, monitor experiments, make observations, calculate and record results, and often develop conclusions. They must keep detailed logs of all of their work-related activities. Those who work in production monitor manufacturing processes and may be involved in ensuring quality by testing products for proper proportions of ingredients, for purity, or for strength and durability

As laboratory instrumentation and procedures have become more complex in recent years, the role of biological technicians in research and development has expanded. In addition to performing routine tasks, many technicians also develop and adapt laboratory procedures to achieve the best results, interpret data, and devise solutions to problems, under the direction of scientists. They must master the laboratory equipment so that they can adjust settings when necessary and recognize when equipment is malfunctioning.

The increasing use of robotics to perform many routine tasks has freed technicians to operate more-sophisticated laboratory equipment. They make extensive use of computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics, and high-technology industrial applications, such as biological engineering.

Work Environment

Biological technicians work under a wide variety of conditions. Most work indoors, usually in laboratories, and have regular hours. Some occasionally work irregular hours to monitor experiments that cannot be completed during regular working hours. Production technicians often work in 8-hour shifts around the clock. Some technicians may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals, or toxic materials. They sometimes work with toxic chemicals, radioactive isotopes, and disease-causing organisms. They use their hands to handle, control and feel objects, tools, and controls. It is important that they be very exact and highly accurate in performing their job. The job may require walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

More Information

Ask Questions

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