Biological Technicians

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.

$52,000
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+3% projected 2024โ€“2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Biological technicians work behind the scenes in laboratories, handling the detailed tasks that keep scientific research moving forward. They prepare lab equipment and materials before experiments begin, carefully following protocols to ensure accuracy. Throughout the workday, they monitor ongoing experiments, taking measurements and recording observations at precise intervals. They collect samples of blood, tissue, plant material, or other biological substances and prepare them for analysis using microscopes, centrifuges, and specialized testing equipment.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA
$185,874
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences(masters)Duke University, NC
$171,112
Biology(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$153,622
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA
$150,114
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(masters)Harvard University, MA
$142,377
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(doctoral)University of California-San Francisco, CA
$117,339
Biology(doctoral)Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ
$106,354
Biology(doctoral)Rutgers University-Newark, NJ
$106,354
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)New York University, NY
$100,602
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$100,512
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)University of Chicago, IL
$99,193
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(grad-cert)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$97,522
Biology(doctoral)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$96,695
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Oregon Health & Science University, OR
$93,583
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(doctoral)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$91,570
Biology(masters)University of Maryland-Baltimore County, MD
$91,503
Biology(masters)University of Maryland-College Park, MD
$91,503
Biology(masters)Salisbury University, MD
$91,503
Biology(masters)Hood College, MD
$91,503
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Arizona State University Digital Immersion, AZ
$88,036
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ
$88,036
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Eastern Virginia Medical School, VA
$87,769
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Augusta University, GA
$87,769
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Emory University, GA
$87,769
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Case Western Reserve University, OH
$87,769

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