Biological Technician Career
Biological Technicians are a major part of biological research teams, helping scientists in conducting successful laboratory tests and experiments. Since they are involved in the research of organic substances, much of their work impacts potential cures for diseases such as cancer, HIV, and many others. Biological technicians work in several industries, but the majority work in the medical field.
Biological Technician Career Snapshot
Due to the scientific emphasis of their efforts, biological technicians perform most of their work in laboratories and/or specialized offices. Some may work in the field where they need to observe or collect specimens from forests, lakes, or other wild areas. They typically keep a full-time work schedule of 40 or more hours per week and may work additional hours per research needs.
Further details on a career as a biological technician are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average salary for biological technicians per year.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Bachelor’s degree while 8% have a High School diploma.
Biological Technician Education
Biological technicians begin their education early, taking additional math and science courses in high school. The typical minimum degree needed for full-time employment is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited biological science program. Biological technicians continue to emphasize math and science, but also dive into several biological sub-fields and laboratory courses during their college studies.
Biological Technician Job Duties
Biological technicians use their skills in ensuring laboratory equipment is set up and maintained, gather and prepare samples for analysis, conduct tests and experiments, and analyze and report results. They work in teams and typically are under the supervision of biologists or other scientists.
Biological Technician Salaries
The median wage for biological technicians is $41,650 in May 2015 according to BLS.gov statistics. The highest 10 percent earn more than $69,180, while the lowest 10 percent earn $26,610. Salaries also vary by industry. Chemical manufacturing pays a median of $47,760, followed by research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences industries at $45,220.
Biological Technician Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this career field is expected to grow by 5 percent through 2024. Expanded research in the biotechnology sector will drive employment opportunities for biological technicians.
Biological Technician Skills & Traits
| Biological Technician Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Biological Technicians: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Reading Comprehension • Active Listening • Critical Thinking • Science • Complex Problem Solving | • Near Vision • Inductive Reasoning • Information Ordering • Selective Attention • Written Expression | • Deoxyribonucleic sequence analyzers • Hematology differential cell counters • Microbiology analyzers • Automatic pipetters • Spectrofluorimeters | • Recording information • Communicating with others • Working with computers • Processing information |
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