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Biology laboratory technician vs biological technician

The differences between biology laboratory technicians and biological technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a biology laboratory technician and a biological technician. Additionally, a biological technician has an average salary of $43,572, which is higher than the $38,514 average annual salary of a biology laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a biology laboratory technician include lab equipment, molecular biology and chemistry. The most important skills for a biological technician are GPS, lab equipment, and data collection.

Biology laboratory technician vs biological technician overview

Biology Laboratory TechnicianBiological Technician
Yearly salary$38,514$43,572
Hourly rate$18.52$20.95
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs45,4709,182
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

What does a biology laboratory technician do?

A biological technician assists medical and biological scientists in conducting laboratory experiments and tests. As a biological technician, you will perform a variety of tasks that include setting up, maintaining, and cleaning laboratory equipment and instruments such as test tubes and microscopes, collecting and preparing biological samples, and analyzing experimental data, and interpreting results. In addition, you will assist medical scientists by administering new treatments and medicines to laboratory animals. You will also perform different techniques such as specimen staining to aid identification.

What does a biological technician do?

A biological technician is in charge of performing laboratory support tasks, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around gathering and preparing samples, operating laboratory equipment, conducting analysis and experiments, recording every progress, and maintaining documentation. They may also coordinate with other technicians and scientists in various research and development efforts, summarizing findings into reports and presentations. Furthermore, as a laboratory technician, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness and order in the laboratory, all while adhering to its policies and regulations.

Biology laboratory technician vs biological technician salary

Biology laboratory technicians and biological technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Biology Laboratory TechnicianBiological Technician
Average salary$38,514$43,572
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $50,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CitySouth San Francisco, CABerkeley, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyUniversity of CaliforniaBristol-Myers Squibb
Best paying industryManufacturingHealth Care

Differences between biology laboratory technician and biological technician education

There are a few differences between a biology laboratory technician and a biological technician in terms of educational background:

Biology Laboratory TechnicianBiological Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeCornell UniversityDuke University

Biology laboratory technician vs biological technician demographics

Here are the differences between biology laboratory technicians' and biological technicians' demographics:

Biology Laboratory TechnicianBiological Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 42.6% Female, 57.4%Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 12.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 12.6% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between biology laboratory technician and biological technician duties and responsibilities

Biology laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead experiments to assess survivor behavior differences in zebrafish contaminate with dietary mercury.
  • Prepare media and reagents necessary for microbiological and electrophoresis analysis.
  • Carry out highly complex pharmaceutical and biotechnology studies while maintaining strong relationships with clients and upholding federal regulations for FDA approval.
  • Design and implement vegetation survey using GPS and GIS; collect and analyze data for reports.
  • Record the amount of plant cover, GPS coordinates and environmental conditions in a journal for different sampling plots.
  • Lead experiments to assess survivor behavior differences in zebrafish contaminate with dietary mercury.

Biological technician example responsibilities.

  • Identify owl species by sight and sound prompt using hoot flute and reed caller.
  • Back sprays, ATV, and boom sprays are used and maintain in this project.
  • Maintain backpack and ATV herbicides equipment.
  • Help harvest walleyes from earthen ponds.
  • Collect and tabulate angler effort, harvest and catch data.
  • Fish surveys, electro fishing, fish deliveries, vegetation control.
  • Show more

Biology laboratory technician vs biological technician skills

Common biology laboratory technician skills
  • Lab Equipment, 12%
  • Molecular Biology, 6%
  • Chemistry, 5%
  • Laboratory Procedures, 4%
  • Biology Lab, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
Common biological technician skills
  • GPS, 10%
  • Lab Equipment, 9%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • PCR, 6%
  • GLP, 5%
  • Tissue Samples, 5%

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