Bioinformatics Technicians

People in this career spend their days working with computers to process, analyze, and interpret complex biological data. They apply bioinformatics tools to visualize and manipulate molecular information, and they often build or maintain databases that store genomic data. This work requires a strong investigative interest, as technicians must solve complex problems, think creatively, and identify patterns in information.

Daily tasks involve gathering and updating technical knowledge, making decisions, and communicating findings to supervisors and colleagues. Success in this role relies on skills like critical thinking, active learning, reading comprehension, and mathematics. Technicians must combine knowledge of biology and chemistry with computers, electronics, and engineering. Key work styles for this job include a strong attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, dependability, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity when dealing with complex scientific questions.

Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree. Because the role demands considerable preparation, most employers look for candidates who have both a four-year degree and several years of experience in a related scientific or technical role.

Students preparing for this career usually major in fields that bridge the gap between life sciences and mathematics. Relevant college majors include bioinformatics, computational biology, biomathematics, mathematics and computer science, computational science, applied mathematics, and mathematics and statistics.

The federal government tracks employment data for this role under the broader category of mathematical science occupations, all other. For this group, the median annual pay is $81,490. The lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $47,980, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $154,580.

There are 3,720 people employed in this field. Between the years 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 7.1 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in 200 job openings each year.