by our College Data Analytics TeamMedicine has made incredible breakthroughs over the past century. Vaccines and cures have been developed to increase life spans and help the sick heal. If you would like to play a role in continuing these advancements, consider majoring in Biology and Biotech Lab Technician.
With a degree in this field, you will learn the technical skills to aid research scientists in performing experiments on future vaccines and cures that may save lives and protect people from diseases. You will take classes in biology, microbiology, ecology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics along with technical classes that introduce you to laboratory equipment and the scientific method. These classes will prepare you to assist research scientists in performing necessary tasks within the lab.
In 2020-2021, biology and biotech lab technician was the 288th most popular major nationwide with 732 degrees awarded. This represents a 3.7% increase in biology tech degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 705.
Our 2023 Best Biology & Biotech Lab Technician Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for biology and biotech lab technician students. Explore this or one of our many other custom biology tech rankings further below.
Research and scientific experiments require precision and control, making it necessary for Biology and Biotech Lab Technicians to be very observant. You should ensure that experiments are running smoothly and all data and notes have been properly recorded. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills will allow professionals to collect data and make educational conclusions. Communication and teamwork skills are also important to ensure information is shared between team members and findings are clearly explained.
A degree in this field typically leads to a fulltime, 40-hour workweek job often in a laboratory. Before students pursue a job, they should acquire relevant experience. This can be done through an internship or summer job as you are working towards finishing your degree.
A bachelor's degree in this field will allow graduates to work as lab technicians, but a graduate degree will allow them advance to scientists after a few years of experience.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most biology tech degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific biology tech careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Biology Tech degree levels vary. Biology & Biotech Lab Technician programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest biology tech degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a biology tech degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to biology tech, with approximately 48.8% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for biology tech workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 51.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 31.0% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 15.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 2.9% |
| High School Diploma | 1.5% |
Most workers in biology tech have at least a associate degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in biology and biotech lab technician have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which biology tech career you choose.
Graduates often find jobs at a variety of biological labs that focus in pharmaceuticals, medicine, life sciences, agriculture, and biotechnology. Graduates not only have technical skills, they also have a background in biology allowing them to find a job at any research company working in the biology field.
Want a job when you graduate with your biology tech degree? Biology & Biotech Lab Technician careers are expected to grow 10.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biology and biotech lab technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | 90,400 | 10.1% |
Biology & Biotech Lab Technician graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $38,290 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $31,681 to as high as $43,580. As you might expect, salaries for biology tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for biology and biotech lab technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers biology tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $48,060 |
With over 149 different biology tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased biology tech school rankings to help you with this.
Biology & Biotech Lab Technician is one of 4 different types of Science Technologies / Technicians programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Science Technicians | 2,909 |
| Other Science Technologies/Technicians | 2,451 |
| Nuclear & Radiological Technicians | 299 |
| General Science Technologies/Technicians | 60 |
