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Biological Technicians

General Information

Description

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.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit66.03%
  2. State and local government17.89%
  3. Federal government9.60%
  4. Private, not for profit3.11%
  5. Self-employed2.99%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2021 - 2031)
+9%
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Job Outlook

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Employment of biological technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. About 12,200 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.

Similar Careers

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Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$48,140

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$61,420
$31,510
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 48%
  • Master's degree 29%
  • Post baccalaureate 14%
  • Doctoral degree 2%
  • High school 1%
  • Some college 1%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Investigative — You have an interest in studying and researching objects, organisms, and other things.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computers and Electronics
  • English Language
  • Mathematics

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.