Biological technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Mean (average) | $61,380 | $29.51 |
| 90th percentile | $84,940 | $40.84 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Biological technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,220 | $35,610 | $62,230 | 270 | 0.28 |
| Alaska | $56,470 | $44,720 | $76,860 | 410 | 2.82 |
| Arizona | $53,290 | $44,040 | $81,960 | 830 | 0.57 |
| Arkansas | $46,930 | $34,920 | $73,750 | 420 | 0.71 |
| California | $71,440 | $46,700 | $121,670 | 9,210 | 1.13 |
| Colorado | $59,400 | $49,480 | $79,380 | 1,990 | 1.55 |
| Connecticut | $62,360 | $39,520 | $92,180 | 650 | 0.85 |
| Delaware | $58,550 | $44,570 | $77,910 | 180 | 0.82 |
| District of Columbia | $64,770 | $42,230 | $81,560 | 210 | 0.66 |
| Florida | $48,700 | $36,050 | $78,130 | 3,170 | 0.71 |
| Georgia | $52,420 | $42,940 | $72,420 | 860 | 0.39 |
| Guam | $44,950 | $34,860 | $63,270 | 90 | 3.19 |
| Hawaii | $48,770 | $36,090 | $63,520 | 830 | 2.96 |
| Idaho | $42,130 | $36,030 | $59,010 | 450 | 1.16 |
| Illinois | $55,790 | $36,230 | $79,440 | 790 | 0.29 |
| Indiana | $58,790 | $45,140 | $84,900 | 1,020 | 0.71 |
| Iowa | $48,050 | $39,310 | $72,510 | 800 | 1.15 |
| Kansas | $51,630 | $36,700 | $82,650 | 480 | 0.74 |
| Kentucky | $48,910 | $35,280 | $73,040 | 260 | 0.29 |
| Louisiana | $47,310 | $32,390 | $77,400 | 190 | 0.22 |
| Maine | $60,160 | $46,450 | $79,510 | 510 | 1.78 |
| Maryland | $52,900 | $41,270 | $82,280 | 3,470 | 2.8 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 | $49,880 | $94,760 | 8,430 | 5.18 |
| Michigan | $51,070 | $38,900 | $67,870 | 1,160 | 0.59 |
| Minnesota | $48,130 | $40,940 | $73,280 | 1,400 | 1.06 |
| Mississippi | $56,930 | $38,550 | $79,440 | 330 | 0.64 |
| Missouri | $50,640 | $38,800 | $74,600 | 620 | 0.47 |
| Montana | $49,920 | $40,330 | $64,980 | 430 | 1.88 |
| Nebraska | $48,220 | $35,380 | $67,200 | 600 | 1.32 |
| Nevada | $51,680 | $37,620 | $65,930 | 280 | 0.4 |
| New Hampshire | $55,540 | $41,410 | $77,860 | 240 | 0.78 |
| New Jersey | $66,040 | $47,650 | $97,850 | 1,290 | 0.67 |
| New Mexico | $49,570 | $40,330 | $61,610 | 140 | 0.35 |
| New York | $61,210 | $39,040 | $79,630 | 5,050 | 1.16 |
| North Carolina | $61,720 | $41,300 | $79,070 | 2,460 | 1.11 |
| North Dakota | $55,330 | $44,950 | $69,150 | 250 | 1.28 |
| Ohio | $51,080 | $36,400 | $79,490 | 2,240 | 0.9 |
| Oklahoma | $47,850 | $38,990 | $75,360 | 360 | 0.47 |
| Oregon | $52,190 | $40,330 | $73,740 | 1,590 | 1.81 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,950 | $43,270 | $80,530 | 2,820 | 1.04 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,630 | $31,200 | $64,140 | 670 | 1.59 |
| Rhode Island | $45,530 | $43,830 | $79,060 | 140 | 0.63 |
| South Carolina | $53,040 | $35,710 | $74,890 | 550 | 0.53 |
| South Dakota | $41,300 | $38,170 | $56,620 | 230 | 1.1 |
| Tennessee | $50,840 | $41,440 | $80,330 | 1,240 | 0.85 |
| Texas | $50,130 | $36,960 | $80,600 | 2,730 | 0.43 |
| Utah | $52,960 | $40,330 | $82,500 | 710 | 0.91 |
| Vermont | $51,190 | $44,390 | $64,890 | 220 | 1.62 |
| Virginia | $53,360 | $40,330 | $79,470 | 1,820 | 0.99 |
| Washington | $60,800 | $45,720 | $79,580 | 3,210 | 2.02 |
| West Virginia | $51,440 | $41,620 | $90,900 | 100 | 0.33 |
| Wisconsin | $51,750 | $40,330 | $73,570 | 1,800 | 1.37 |
| Wyoming | $46,480 | $40,330 | $62,980 | 190 | 1.53 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for biological technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 9,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for biological technicians
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General CIP 26.0101
- Biomedical Sciences, General CIP 26.0102
- Biochemistry CIP 26.0202
- Molecular Biology CIP 26.0204
- Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0406
- Microbiology, General CIP 26.0502
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology CIP 26.0503
- Microbiology and Immunology CIP 26.0508
- Zoology/Animal Biology CIP 26.0701
- Animal Behavior and Ethology CIP 26.0708
- Wildlife Biology CIP 26.0709
- Genetics, General CIP 26.0801
- Biostatistics CIP 26.1102
- Bioinformatics CIP 26.1103
- Computational Biology CIP 26.1104
- Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography CIP 26.1302
- Aquatic Biology/Limnology CIP 26.1304
- Neuroscience CIP 26.1501
- Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician CIP 41.0101
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
- Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
- Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.
- Input data into databases.
- Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
- Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
- Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
- Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
Technology skills
- Microsoft .NET Framework (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- BD Biosciences CellQuest
- BoxShade
- ClustalW
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management.
Common job titles: Biological Science Lab Tech (Biological Science Laboratory Technician), Biological Science Technician (Biological Science Tech), Biologist Aide, Biologist Technician (Biologist Tech), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Fisheries Biological Technician (Fisheries Biological Tech), Marine Fisheries Technician (Marine Fisheries Tech), Microbiology Technician (Microbiology Tech), Research Assistant, Research Associate.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do biological technicians make?
The national median annual wage for biological technicians was $57,510 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,330 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $84,940. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do biological technicians need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is biological technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of biological technicians to change +7.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 9,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay biological technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($71,440), New Jersey ($66,040), District of Columbia ($64,770). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.