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Job outlook for fisheries biological technicians in the United States
Are fisheries biological technician jobs in demand?
Fisheries biological technician job and salary trends over time
Fisheries biological technician jobs over time
Fisheries biological technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 78 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 77 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 75 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 72 | 0.00% |
Average fisheries biological technician salary over time
Fisheries biological technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $33,198 | $15.96 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $32,854 | $15.80 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $31,880 | $15.33 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $31,378 | $15.09 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $30,461 | $14.64 | +2.1% |
Fisheries biological technician jobs by state
Most common states for fisheries biological technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 672 | 10% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 101 | 8% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 49 | 7% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 61 | 6% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 37 | 6% |
| 6 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 293 | 5% |
| 7 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 475 | 4% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 270 | 4% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 218 | 4% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 206 | 4% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 131 | 4% |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 68 | 4% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 356 | 3% |
| 14 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 285 | 3% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 164 | 3% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 83 | 3% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 74 | 3% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 63 | 3% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 37 | 3% |
| 20 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 23 | 3% |
Fisheries Biological Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of fisheries biological technician experts
University at Albany, State University of New York
Chatham University
University of Akron
Molloy College
What skills stand out on Fisheries Biological Technician resumes?
Douglas Conklin Ph.D.: The main skill that always stands out is research experience. Taking what you've learned in the classroom and applying it to a real-world problem is invaluable - and it's never too early to start. Research skills are highly transferable. Experience with thinking that is both objective and creative is useful in many fields - not just biology research. A recent study by the National Institute of Health concluded that obtaining an advanced degree in a research-based field is worth $1 million in additional earnings over your career - whether you stay in research or not. Being able to identify, understand and solve problems are skills that all organizations want their team members to have.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Fisheries Biological Technicians to find work opportunities?
Douglas Conklin Ph.D.: The good news is that there seem to be more and more positions in biological fields every year. There are opportunities in many locations. I often counsel students I know to think about the possibility of needing a plan B when considering where to work. Moving to an area of the country that has a concentration of organizations in your field will mean that you won't have to move if you want to change jobs - or are forced to do so. Since many people's lives get more complicated as they get older - spouses, children, other family - working in a part of the country that has a concentration of organizations in your field may make it less disruptive in the future. It often makes it easier to network with people in your field if they work down the street.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Fisheries Biological Technician job market given the pandemic?
John Dubé Ph.D.: I think the job market for students with a graduate degree in biology is very promising. With a Master's degree, students can teach at the Community College level as either adjunct instructors or full-time instructors, they could also teach at larger institutions, like Chatham, as adjuncts for lecture courses or laboratory sections. There are jobs in the pharmaceutical industry as technicians or junior scientists. Other industry jobs include work in ecology, software engineering, bioinformatics. Finally, there are positions in healthcare that overlap many of the potential jobs I've already listed.
One of the biggest trends is the capacity to work remotely and to obtain specific skills (i.e., data management).
What experience really stands out on Fisheries Biological Technician resumes?
Dr. Randall J Mitchell: You will never have all the background needed for any particular position, but having a wide variety of experience and a record of responsibility and completion will help demonstrate that you can learn on the job. Any experience of any kind can be important for that demonstration. It's obviously nice if the experience is related to your desired job, but sometimes that's hard to do - build up to it in any way you can, and try to develop connections and network. Some of the best experiences come from being in the right place at the right time, and that is more likely if you are in a lot of different activities and get to know people. For field and environmental types, volunteer or paid work with park districts, time outdoors, and experience with identifying plants can make a big difference. Experience writing reports and presenting projects is important. And as an aside - grades aren't that important here. Focus on what you learn and what you can do, not just on getting good scores. Some of the best learning comes in the hardest things for you, so don't avoid hard classes that will be valuable.
What Fisheries Biological Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Randall J Mitchell: Writing clearly, demonstrating (and developing) responsibility, and anything even distantly related to your desired career is helpful. If you can do this for pay, that's obviously helpful and convenient, but you probably will need to do volunteer work, at least in part. For field and environmental biology students, get out hiking, fishing, hunting, botanizing, and managing the property. The more field experience you can get, the better. Use this time to sample and try as many options that interest you as possible. Figure out what makes you happy and what you are good at. Or, you may need to use that time to make some money so you'll have a cushion once you return to school.
What type of skills will young Fisheries Biological Technicians need?
Dr. Noelle Cutter: Skills for upcoming graduates...I am a big believer in graduates having a firm foundation in liberal arts and sciences. Employers are looking for employees who can advance in the profession, not just entry-level work. That will be the future of the workforce. The liberal arts and sciences provide a solid foundation for long term employment and career success. It is an approach to college learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change.
This approach emphasizes broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g., science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth achievement in a specific field of interest. In terms of skills, they are lifelong learning skills that are non-subject specific. These skills include the capacity to think critically, communicate clearly (both written and oral), and solve complex problems. I mean, think about the current pandemic....understanding and communicating the science of the virus is absolutely critical. The need for rigorous, critical, engaged thinking to understand the challenge and be informed citizens. It is absolutely critical.
How do you envision technology impacting Fisheries Biological Technicians in the next 5 years?
Dr. Noelle Cutter: In light of this, we need to prepare our students to have educational experiences that teach them about building civic capacity, broad knowledge about the liberal arts and sciences, and cultures outside the United States. One central goal of a liberal arts education is to prepare students for this uncertain future. A foundation in the liberal arts will teach students the set of skills that give them the opportunity to evolve and adapt as the world changes.