Biological Technicians
SOC: 19-4021.00

Description:

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.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
79,300 employed

Projected (2024):
83,500 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Aquatic Scientist
  • Artificial Breeding Laboratory Technician
  • Artificial Breeding Technician
  • Artificial Inseminator
  • Babcock Tester
  • Bacteriology Lab Specialist
  • Bacteriology Research Assistant
  • Bacteriology Technician
  • Biochemistry Technician
  • Biological Aide
  • Biological Science Aide
  • Biological Science Laboratory Technician
  • Biological Science Technician
  • Biological Sciences Technician
  • Biological Scientist
  • Biological Technician
  • Biologist Aide
  • Biology Laboratory Assistant
  • Biology Research Assistant
  • Biology Specimen Technician
  • Biomedical Technician
  • Biotechnician
  • Biotechnologist
  • Botany Laboratory Assistant
  • Culture Media Laboratory Assistant
  • Cytogenetic Technologist
  • Cytology Laboratory Technician
  • Dairy Technologist
  • Downstream Biomanufacturing Technician
  • Environmental Technician
  • Exotic Plants Technician
  • Feed Research Aide
  • Fiber Technologist
  • Fisheries Biological Technician
  • Fowl Blood Tester
  • Game Technician
  • Herbarium Worker
  • Lab Supervisor
  • Lab Technologist
  • Laboratory Assistant
  • Laboratory Associate
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Laboratory Worker
  • Marine Fisheries Technician
  • Medical Lab Assistant
  • Medical Research Assistant
  • Medical Technologist
  • Microbiology Analyst
  • Microbiology Lab Assistant
  • Microbiology Quality Control Technician
  • Microbiology Technician
  • Molecular Lab Technologist
  • Molecular Research Technologist
  • Poultry Inseminator
  • Research Assistant
  • Research Associate
  • Research Specialist
  • Research Technician
  • Resource Biologist
  • Resource Biologist-Fisheries
  • Scientific Technician
  • Seed Analyst
  • Specimen Technician
  • Upstream Biomanufacturing Technician
  • Veterinary Laboratory Technician
  • Wildlife Biology Technician
  • Wildlife Technician

    • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

    Education:

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Equipment Selection
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Geography
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
  • Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
  • Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
  • Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
  • Conduct research or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
  • Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.
  • Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
  • Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.
  • Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations.
  • Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food or other products.
  • Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
  • Measure or weigh compounds and solutions for use in testing or animal feed.
  • Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
  • Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.
  • Conduct or supervise operational programs such as fish hatcheries, greenhouses and livestock production programs.
  • Feed livestock or laboratory animals.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Aerobic growth chambers
  • Agitators
  • Amino acid analyzers
  • Anaerobic growth chambers
  • Analytical balances
  • Autoclaves
  • Automated cell counters
  • Automated microplate ELISA readers
  • Automated tissue/slide stainers
  • Automatic pipetters
  • Balances
  • Bioanalyzers
  • Biological containment hoods
  • Centrifuges
  • Conductivity meters
  • Coulter counters
  • Cytofluorographs
  • Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers
  • Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA synthesizers
  • Dissection microscopes
  • Distillation equipment
  • Drying ovens
  • Electrophorators
  • Electrophoresis boxes
  • Flow cytometers
  • Fluoride electrodes
  • Fluorometers
  • Full-face respirators
  • Gas chromatographs GC
  • Gel chromatography equipment
  • Gel imaging apparatus
  • Glass washers
  • Hematology cell counters
  • High-voltage electrophoresis apparatus
  • Homogenizers
  • Hybridization ovens
  • Imaging systems
  • Incubator microscopes
  • Incubators
  • Inherit sequencing analysis systems
  • Inoculating loops
  • Inverted microscopes
  • Laboratory ovens
  • Laser printers
  • Light/tissue culture microscopes
  • Liquid handling robots
  • Liquid nitrogen freezers
  • Microcentrifuges
  • Microplate readers
  • Microplate shakers
  • Microplate washers
  • Multichannel pipetters
  • Notebook computers
  • Paraffin embedding consoles
  • Personal computers
  • Petri dishes
  • pH meters
  • Polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment
  • Polymerase chain reaction PCR thermocyclers
  • Protein sequencers
  • Radioactive counters
  • Refrigerated centrifuges
  • Robotic laboratory equipment
  • Spectrophotometers
  • Sterilizers
  • Stirring hotplates
  • Test tubes
  • Titration burets
  • Ultracentrifuges
  • Ultralow freezers
  • Ultramicrotomes
  • Ultrasonic cleaners
  • Ultraviolet water purification systems
  • Vacuum dehydration units
  • Volumetric glassware
  • Water jacketed incubators
  • Waterbaths
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software
  • BD Biosciences CellQuest
  • BOXSHADE software
  • ClustalW
  • Corel WordPerfect software
  • Database software
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • ESRI ArcGIS software (analytical or scientific feature)
  • Gene Codes Sequencher
  • GeneRunner software
  • Graphics software
  • Harvard Graphics software
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Laboratory information management system LIMS software
  • MapInfo MapMarker
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Word
  • Phrap
  • Phred
  • PolyBayes software
  • Primer3 software
  • SAS software
  • Statistical software
  • Systat Software SigmaPlot
  • Systat Software Table Curve
  • Thomson EndNote

    • life physical and social science

    industry stats

    SOC: 19-0000

    Total Employed: 1,146,110

    Average Annual Salary: $71,220