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What is a biological science technician and how to become one
Biological science technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments. They usually work under the supervision of biologists of medical students who direct and evaluate their work. They can work within an organization or do fieldwork, depending on the biologists they are working with.
Their main duties include setting up, maintaining, and cleaning laboratory instruments and equipment, such as microscopes and test tubes, gathering and preparing biological samples, conducting biological tests and experiments, analyzing and writing reports on their finding, among others. Analytical, communication, observational, and critical thinking are some of the skills that are required from a biological science technician.
The most common requirement to become a biological science technician is a bachelor's of science or associate's degree. A bachelor's degree in biology or a related field takes four years to complete. An associate's degree can be completed in two years or less, depending on course load. The median annual salary for this profession is $45,860. The job market is projected to grow 5% over the next ten years.
What general advice would you give to a biological science technician?
Dr. Jodi Lancaster Ph.D.
Dean of the School of Sciences and Professor of Molecular Biology, Elizabethtown College
Avg. Salary $35,390
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 2.39%
Asian 12.67%
Black or African American 11.56%
Hispanic or Latino 14.20%
Unknown 6.08%
White 53.10%
Genderfemale 48.99%
male 51.01%
Age - 37American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 37Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Biological science technician career paths
Key steps to become a biological science technician
Explore biological science technician education requirements
Start to develop specific biological science technician skills
Skills Percentages Laboratory Equipment 10.07% Data Collection 7.34% Rehabilitation 7.25% Scientific Data 5.04% USDA 4.78% Complete relevant biological science technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New biological science technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a biological science technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real biological science technician resumes.Research biological science technician duties and responsibilities
- Create PowerPoint and other support media for presentation of research to PhD research leads.
- Assist in developing a genetic algorithm for generating sound recognition templates for insect calls (still ongoing).
- Develop an image viewer design to let researchers train programs so that they can see and label insect calls
- General laboratory work - collecting tissue sample, organization/preparation, plant seeds, greenhouse work, maintenance of plants, etc
Prepare your biological science technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your biological science technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a biological science technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable biological science technician resume templates
Build a professional biological science technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your biological science technician resume.
Apply for biological science technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a biological science technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first biological science technician job
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Average biological science technician salary
The average biological science technician salary in the United States is $35,390 per year or $17 per hour. Biological science technician salaries range between $26,000 and $47,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
