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What is a biotechnologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted expert
Professor Susan Bergeson
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a biotechnologist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.04 an hour? That's $54,160 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 7,700 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a biotechnologist?

Professor Susan Bergeson

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Ability to maximize use of AI, especially with large data sets requiring bioinformatics analyses
ScoreBiotechnologistUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $54,160

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.9

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.22%

Asian 13.55%

Black or African American 9.11%

Hispanic or Latino 10.59%

Unknown 5.91%

White 58.62%

Gender

female 44.90%

male 55.10%

Age - 37
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37
Stress level
4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Biotechnologist career paths

Key steps to become a biotechnologist

  1. Explore biotechnologist education requirements

    Most common biotechnologist degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.4 %

    Master's

    26.7 %

    Associate

    4.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific biotechnologist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    R23.36%
    GMP13.39%
    DNA12.57%
    PCR11.89%
    Assays10.45%
  3. Complete relevant biotechnologist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New biotechnologists 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 biotechnologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real biotechnologist resumes.
  4. Research biotechnologist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage laboratories and perform clinical research in diabetic and thyroid disease states.
    • Perform standard PCR assays for research group.
    • Purify enzymes using gravity, low pressure liquid chromatography, and AKTA FPLC.
    • Participate in semi-annual proficiency testing for forensic casework (CTS) and proficiency testing for engraftment monitoring (ASHI).
  5. Apply for biotechnologist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a biotechnologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first biotechnologist job

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Average biotechnologist salary

The average biotechnologist salary in the United States is $54,160 per year or $26 per hour. Biotechnologist salaries range between $36,000 and $80,000 per year.

Average biotechnologist salary
$54,160 Yearly
$26.04 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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