Vocational Index

Career

Biological technicians

Run experiments alongside biologists and medical scientists.

$57,510
Median pay
+7.4%
Job growth, 2025–35
9,400
Openings a year
Bachelor's degree
Typical education
4 years
Typical time after high school

Here's what you actually need to know.

The work

What people in this job do

  • 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.

The outlook

How the forecast changed this year

2024–34 edition+3.5%2025–35 edition+7.4%
Projected 10-year growth in last year's and this year's BLS projections. 9,100 → 9,400 openings a year.

The deeper question

What kind of person does this path ask you to become?

What this work centers on

Information & systems
5.6
Objects & tools
5.6
Ideas & analysis
5.4
People & care
2.0
Persuasion & leadership
1.3
Creation & expression
1.2

O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.

The work

Do you want most of your days spent on information & systems, then objects & tools?

Responsibility

Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?

“Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.”

Development

What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Science.

Trade-offs

What does it ask of you in exchange?

4 years of education after high school (bachelor's degree), for a median of $57,510 a year and 9,400 openings nationally each year.

Paths in

Degrees that lead here

Paths across

Careers that use similar skills

  • Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
  • Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
  • Chemical Technicians$60,390 · +4.9%
  • Cytogenetic Technologists
  • Histotechnologists

Ask anything about this career.

“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.

Not sure this fits who you are? Start with Vocational Finder →

Sources

  1. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  2. BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  3. O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  4. CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.