Biological Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Biological Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $57,510 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 69,620. Wage data is published for 221 locations.
Occupation description
Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.
O*NET code
19-4021.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$57,510
Hourly median
$27.65
Employment
69,620
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Science | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Speaking | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 3.25 |
Typical tasks
- Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
- 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.
- Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
- Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Photoshop
- BD Biosciences CellQuest
- BoxShade
- ClustalW
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Gene Codes Sequencher
- Gene Runner
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphics software
- Harvard Graphics
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
Biological Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Biological Technicians Salary in CAMedian $71,440 · Employment 9,210
- Biological Technicians Salary in MAMedian $62,070 · Employment 8,430
- Biological Technicians Salary in Boston, MAMedian $61,610 · Employment 7,320
- Biological Technicians Salary in NYMedian $61,210 · Employment 5,050
- Biological Technicians Salary in MDMedian $52,900 · Employment 3,470
- Biological Technicians Salary in New York, NYMedian $62,780 · Employment 3,270
- Biological Technicians Salary in WAMedian $60,800 · Employment 3,210
- Biological Technicians Salary in FLMedian $48,700 · Employment 3,170
- Biological Technicians Salary in PAMedian $54,950 · Employment 2,820
- Biological Technicians Salary in TXMedian $50,130 · Employment 2,730
- Biological Technicians Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $95,220 · Employment 2,690
- Biological Technicians Salary in NCMedian $61,720 · Employment 2,460
Related careers
- Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $84,620
- Natural Sciences ManagersNational median $167,220
- Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersNational median $109,370
- ChemistsNational median $91,240
- Bioinformatics ScientistsNational median $98,920
- GeneticistsNational median $98,920
- Biochemists and BiophysicistsNational median $127,410
- BiologistsNational median $98,920
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.