Log In
Log In to Save
Sign Up to Save
Sign Up to Dismiss
The email and password you specified are invalid. Please, try again.
Email and password are mandatory
Forgot Password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up
reset password
Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password.
Where do you want to work?
$45,000
Average Salary
Show More
Show Less
Biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. It is important for prospective biological technicians to gain laboratory experience while they are in school.
EducationBiological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field. Most colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degree programs in the biological sciences.
Biological science programs usually include courses in general biology, as well as in specific subfields such as ecology, microbiology, and physiology. In addition to taking courses in biology, students must study chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Computer science courses are helpful for learning how to model and simulate biological processes and for learning how to operate some laboratory equipment.
Laboratory experience is important for prospective biological technicians, so students should take biology courses that emphasize laboratory work.
Important QualitiesAnalytical skills. Biological technicians need to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision.
Communication skills. Biological technicians must understand and follow the instructions of their managing scientists. They also need to be able to communicate their processes and findings clearly in written reports.
Critical-thinking skills. Biological technicians draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.
Observational skills. Biological technicians must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, including the conditions under which the experiment was carried out, the procedures they followed, and the results they obtained.
Technical skills. Biological technicians need to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to adjust equipment to ensure that experiments are conducted properly.
Other ExperienceProspective biological technicians should have laboratory experience. In addition to coursework, students may gain laboratory experience during summer internships with prospective employers, such as pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturers, or in university laboratories.
AdvancementBiological technicians may advance to scientist positions, such as microbiologist, after a few years of experience working as a technician or after earning a master’s degree or Ph.D. Gaining more experience and higher levels of education often allows biological technicians to move into positions such as natural sciences managers or postsecondary teachers.
Show More
Show Less
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Laboratory Internship
Top Careers After Laboratory Internship
Gender
Female
51.6%Male
43.5%Unknown
4.9%Ethnicity
White
68.8%Asian
17.1%Hispanic or Latino
10.2%Unknown
2.9%Black or African American
1.0%Languages Spoken
Spanish
36.3%French
13.2%Mandarin
8.9%Chinese
7.2%Japanese
6.0%German
3.8%Hindi
3.4%Korean
3.2%Cantonese
3.0%Arabic
2.4%Portuguese
2.3%Vietnamese
1.9%Russian
1.9%Italian
1.5%Tagalog
1.1%Urdu
1.1%Turkish
0.9%Telugu
0.8%Gujarati
0.6%Marathi
0.6%Laboratory Internship
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Schools
University of California - Davis
16.0%University of California - San Diego
7.7%University of California - Berkeley
6.2%Pennsylvania State University
5.3%Boston University
5.2%University of California - Santa Barbara
4.7%Purdue University
4.3%University of Texas at Austin
4.3%Virginia Commonwealth University
4.2%Johns Hopkins University
4.2%University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
4.0%Northeastern University
4.0%University of Connecticut
3.8%University of Massachusetts Amherst
3.8%University of Delaware
3.8%Oregon State University
3.8%Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
3.7%Cornell University
3.7%Drexel University
3.7%University of Florida
3.5%Majors
Degrees
Bachelors
57.4%Masters
20.2%Other
10.7%Doctorate
5.0%Associate
4.3%Certificate
1.9%Diploma
0.5%Laboratory Internship
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Show More
Scripps Research Institute
Rockefeller University
Show More