Biological Technicians: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Biological Technicians

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.

Salary
$49490
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Biological Technicians assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

  • Conduct research or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
  • Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
  • Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations.
  • Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
Read more about what does a Biological Technician really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$48060 per year

Average hourly wage
$23 per hour


Biological Technicians with little to no experience tend to make between $29330 and $35190 while the more experienced ones can earn over $57400 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
MA $30 $61,790
CT $28 $57,380
NJ $26 $54,530
IL $26 $53,450
CA $26 $53,230

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Biological Technician is to move to a higher paying state like MA. Right now, the highest paying states for Biological Technicians are MA, CT, NJ, IL and CA.

However, a higher pay at MA doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at MA might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Biological Technician is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Bachelor’s degree

We asked other Biological Technicians what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a Master’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
Read more about how to become a Biological Technician and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Biological Technician.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who values achievements and are results-oriented
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Demand for this career is growing fast
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs
Salary is below average
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
53%

Is this job meaningful
67%


53% of Biological Technicians said they were satisfied with their job and 67% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Thinkers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.



Learn more about Biological Technicians

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Biological Technicians job description, Biological Technicians salary, Biological Technicians information, what is the job of a Biological Technician like, pros and cons about Biological Technicians, colleges and universities for Biological Technicians, is Biological Technicians the right career for me, careers in Social Science and Humanities

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