What Do Biological Technician Do?
Biological Technician Definition Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.
What Do Biological Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.
- Conduct or supervise operational programs such as fish hatcheries, greenhouses and livestock production programs.
- Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
- Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
- Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.
- Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
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Biological Technician Skills
When polled, Biological Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Staff Research Associate
- Research Specialist
- Aquatics Technician
- Biomedical Technician
- Botany Laboratory Assistant
What Kind of Biological Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 82,100 jobs in the United States for Biological Technician. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,300 new jobs for Biological Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,900 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Biological Technician are Utah, Missouri, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, West Virginia, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Biological Technician Average Salary
The salary for Biological Technicians ranges between about $29,330 and $71,440 a year.
Biological Technicians who work in Connecticut, Illinois, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Biological Technicians make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $38,130 |
Alaska | $44,250 |
Arizona | $36,700 |
Arkansas | $43,270 |
California | $53,230 |
Colorado | $44,530 |
Connecticut | $57,380 |
Delaware | $50,550 |
District of Columbia | $50,580 |
Florida | $44,690 |
Georgia | $47,120 |
Hawaii | $37,060 |
Idaho | $35,770 |
Illinois | $53,450 |
Indiana | $45,540 |
Iowa | $44,600 |
Kansas | $40,940 |
Kentucky | $41,970 |
Louisiana | $43,720 |
Maine | $43,640 |
Maryland | $52,460 |
Massachusetts | $61,790 |
Michigan | $41,310 |
Minnesota | $48,930 |
Mississippi | $40,100 |
Missouri | $41,740 |
Montana | $34,990 |
Nebraska | $41,840 |
Nevada | $42,960 |
New Hampshire | $51,970 |
New Jersey | $54,530 |
New Mexico | $44,860 |
New York | $49,180 |
North Carolina | $45,640 |
North Dakota | $37,510 |
Ohio | $45,890 |
Oklahoma | $40,930 |
Oregon | $42,270 |
Pennsylvania | $49,010 |
Rhode Island | $40,450 |
South Carolina | $42,970 |
South Dakota | $32,340 |
Tennessee | $44,320 |
Texas | $46,060 |
Utah | $46,290 |
Vermont | $46,850 |
Virginia | $47,480 |
Washington | $45,360 |
West Virginia | $44,860 |
Wisconsin | $48,040 |
Wyoming | $39,720 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Biological Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Biological Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Database software
- SAS
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphics software
- Statistical software
- Corel WordPerfect
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Laboratory information management system LIMS
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Systat Software SigmaPlot
How do I Become a Biological Technician?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Biological Technician?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Biological Technicians?
Biological Technicians work in the following industries:
References:
Image Credit: Steve Pivnick via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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