Biological Technicians : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct research.

Quick Facts: Biological Technicians
2010 Median Pay	$39,020 per year $18.76 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	80,200
Job Outlook, 2010-20	14% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	10,900

What 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

Biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. It is important for prospective biological technicians to gain laboratory experience while in school.

Pay

The median annual wage of biological technicians was $39,020 in May 2010.

Employment of biological technicians is projected to grow 14 percent from 2010 to 2020, as fast as the average for all occupations. Continued growth in biotechnology and medical research is expected to increase demand for these workers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of biological technicians with similar occupations.

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What Biological Technicians Do About this section

Biological 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, and test tubes
Gather and prepare samples of substances, such as blood, food, or 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 findings

Most biological technicians work on teams. Typically, technicians are responsible for doing scientific tests, experiments, and analyses under the supervision of biologists or other scientists who direct and evaluate their work. Biological technicians use traditional laboratory instruments and advanced robotics and automated equipment to conduct experiments. They use specialized computer software to collect, analyze, and model experimental data.

Biological technicians work in many areas of research. They may assist with medical research by helping develop new medicines and treatments used to prevent, treat, or cure diseases.

Biological technicians who work in microbiology, sometimes referred to as laboratory assistants, studying living organisms and infectious agents.

Technicians working in biotechnology apply the knowledge and techniques they have gained from basic research to product development.

Work Environment About this section

Most biological technicians work in laboratories.

Biological technicians held about 80,200 jobs in 2010. The industries employing the largest numbers of biological technicians in 2010 were as follows:

Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	31%
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	25
Federal government, excluding postal service	17
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing	8
Health care	6

Biological technicians typically work in laboratories and offices, where they conduct experiments and analyze the results under the supervision of biological scientists and medical scientists.

Those who work with dangerous organisms or toxic substances in the laboratory must follow strict safety procedures to avoid contamination.

Most biological technicians work full time and keep regular hours.

How to Become a Biological Technician About this section

Most biological technicians gain laboratory experience while in school.

Education

Biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. Most colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs in biological science.

Biological science programs usually include courses in general biology, as well as in specific subfields such as ecology, microbiology, and molecular biology. In addition to taking courses in biology, students must study chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Computer science courses are helpful for modeling and simulating biological processes and for operating some laboratory equipment.

It is important for students to gain laboratory experience before entering the workforce. Students should take biology courses that emphasize laboratory work. They often can also gain laboratory experience through summer internships with prospective employers, such as pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturers.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Biological technicians need to able to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision.

Critical-thinking skills. Biological technicians draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.

Listening skills. Biological technicians must carefully follow the instructions of biochemists, microbiologists, and other scientists when carrying out experiments and analyses.

Observation skills. Biological technicians must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, such as the conditions under which the experiment was carried out, the procedures they followed, and the results they obtained.

Teamwork. Biological technicians work together on teams under the direction of biologists or other scientists.

Technical skills. Biological technicians must be able to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to adjust equipment to ensure that experiments are conducted properly.

Writing skills. Biological technicians must write reports that summarize their findings and results clearly.

Advancement

Biological technicians may be able to advance to scientist positions, such as microbiologist, after a few years of experience working as a technician or after earning a graduate degree.

Pay About this section

Biological Technicians

Median annual wages, May 2010

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations: $58,530
Biological Technicians: $39,020
Total, All Occupations: $33,840

The median annual wage of biological technicians was $39,020 in May 2010. 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 $24,930, and the top 10 percent earned more than $62,890.

Median annual wages in selected industries employing biological technicians in May 2010 were as follows:

Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private	$44,950
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing	43,010
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	42,280
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state	38,480
Federal government, excluding postal service	32,350

Most biological technicians work full time and keep regular hours.

Job Outlook About this section

Biological Technicians

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations: 16%
Total, All Occupations: 14%
Biological Technicians: 14%

Employment of biological technicians is projected to increase 14 percent from 2010 to 2020, as fast as the average for all occupations. Greater demand for biotechnology research is expected to increase the need for these workers.

Biotechnology research plays a key role in scientific advancements that improve our way of life. Biological technicians will be needed to help scientists develop new medicines and treatments for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.

In agriculture, biotechnology research will be used to create genetically engineered crops that provide greater yields and require less pesticide and fertilizer. In addition, efforts to discover new and improved ways to clean and preserve the environment will continue to add to job growth. Finally, biological technicians will be needed to help develop alternative sources of energy, such as biofuels and biomass.

Job Prospects

Strong competition for jobs is expected. There have been large increases in the number of bachelor’s degrees in biology and other life sciences awarded each year, and this trend is expected to continue. Applicants who have laboratory experience, either through coursework or previous work experience, should have the best opportunities.

Employment projections data for biological technicians, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Biological Technicians	19-4021	80,200	91,100	14	10,900	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of biological technicians.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Agricultural and Food Science Technicians	Under the supervision of scientists, agricultural and food science technicians measure and analyze the quality of food and agricultural products.	Associate’s degree	$32,760
Biochemists and Biophysicists	Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes such as cell development, growth, and heredity.	Doctoral or professional degree	$79,390
Chemical Technicians	Chemical technicians use special instruments and techniques to help chemists and chemical engineers in researching, developing, and producing chemical products and processes.	Associate’s degree	$42,040
Epidemiologists	Epidemiologists investigate the causes of disease and other public health problems to prevent them from spreading or from happening again. They report their findings to public policy officials and to the general public.	Master’s degree	$63,010
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	Medical laboratory technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.	See How to Become One	$46,680
Medical Scientists	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	Doctoral or professional degree	$76,700
Microbiologists	Microbiologists study the growth, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, algae, and fungi.	Bachelor’s degree	$65,920
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	Zoologists and wildlife biologists study the characteristics and habitats of animals and wildlife.	Bachelor’s degree	$57,430