# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biological-technicians
- SOC code: 19-4021.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $57,510 (10th percentile $40,330, 90th percentile $84,940)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.4%
- Openings a year: 9,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 77 |
| Investigative (I) | 73 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 16 |
| Enterprising (E) | 5 |
| Conventional (C) | 77 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 82/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 76/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 76/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 72/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 70/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Science, Active Learning, Writing, Monitoring, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Biology, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Administrative, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Aquatic Technician (Aquatic Tech), Aquatics Technician (Aquatics Tech), Artificial Breeding Lab Tech (Artificial Breeding Laboratory Technician), Artificial Breeding Technician (Artificial Breeding Tech), Artificial Inseminator, Babcock Tester, Bacteriology Research Assistant, Bacteriology Technician (Bacteriology Tech), Biochemistry Technician (Biochemistry Tech), Biological Aide

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Biology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2601) (CIP 2601, 1,703 colleges)
- [Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2602) (CIP 2602, 756 colleges)
- [Neurobiology and Neurosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2615) (CIP 2615, 363 colleges)
- [Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2613) (CIP 2613, 353 colleges)
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2611) (CIP 2611, 200 colleges)
- [Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2604) (CIP 2604, 182 colleges)
- [Microbiological Sciences and Immunology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2605) (CIP 2605, 169 colleges)
- [Zoology/Animal Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2607) (CIP 2607, 125 colleges)
- [Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4101) (CIP 4101, 118 colleges)
- [Genetics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2608) (CIP 2608, 91 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $60,266 | $143,067 | not reported |
| [Carlow University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carlow-university-405) | Biology, General | $42,599 | $134,677 | $26,774 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | not reported | $124,242 | not reported |
| [University of California-San Diego UCSD](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-san-diego-ucsd-2887) | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | $90,963 | $123,320 | $18,145 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $48,738 | $117,816 | not reported |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | not reported | $103,546 | $14,935 |
| [Providence College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/providence-college-2158) | Biology, General | $46,526 | $93,757 | $27,000 |
| [Seton Hall University-New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seton-hall-university-new-jersey-2399) | Biology, General | $37,643 | $93,200 | $22,375 |

## Related careers

- [Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technicians): $62,930 median pay
- [Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Chemical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-technicians): $60,390 median pay
- [Cytogenetic Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cytogenetic-technologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Histotechnologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/histotechnologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Agricultural Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agricultural-technicians): $49,630 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.