| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Input data into databases. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences. |
Biology Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for Biology Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For science-minded people still deciding between medicine, research, and applied lab work. Use the tools below to see which biology roles fit your background and goals.
Biology is one of the broadest STEM majors, feeding directly into healthcare, research, environmental science, pharmaceuticals, and education. Use the tools below to explore Biology-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Lab Technician, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Microbiologist or Epidemiologist. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as Clinical Laboratory Certification (ASCP), that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Biology careers/jobs, (2) Find Biology job listings, (3) Prepare for Biology careers, and (4) Provide Biology career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Biology careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Biology Careers - 2023 to 2033 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Biology careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Biology, so relevant Biology jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Biology Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Biology Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Biology careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 204 Biology Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job
25 Biology careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2023 to 2033 est.). Biology-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2023-2033 (% change) | Biology-Related Jobs |
36 Biology careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Biology-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | Biology-Related Jobs |
38 Biology careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Biology-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
|
Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
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| Occupations | Education/Preparation | Biology-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 204 specific Biology job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Biological Technicians.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Biological Technicians
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.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Biological Technicians":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
87,600U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
93,500
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
5,900 (6.7%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
11,800
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Measure or weigh compounds and solutions for use in testing or animal feed. |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems. |
| Importance: 46 (%) | Description: Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations. |
| Importance: 39 (%) | Description: Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food or other products. |
| Importance: 31 (%) | Description: Feed livestock or laboratory animals. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Analyze chemical compounds or substances. | |
| Assist engineers or scientists with research. | |
| Calculate weights, volumes or other characteristics of materials. | |
| Care for plants or animals. | |
| Clean objects. | |
| Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists. | |
| Collect biological specimens. | |
| Conduct research to gain information about products or processes. | |
| Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms. | |
| Interpret research or operational data. | |
| Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes. | |
| Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards. | |
| Operate computers or computerized equipment. | |
| Order materials, supplies, or equipment. | |
| Prepare biological samples for testing or analysis. | |
| Record research or operational data. | |
| Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures. | |
| Set up laboratory or field equipment. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: 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. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data. |
| Activity: Analyze data to improve operations. |
| Activity: Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research. |
| Activity: Care for plants or animals. |
| Activity: Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects. |
| Activity: Collect environmental or biological samples. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment. |
| Activity: Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance. |
| Activity: Operate computer systems or computerized equipment. |
| Activity: Prepare specimens or materials for testing. |
| Activity: Purchase goods or services. |
| Activity: Research biological or ecological phenomena. |
| Activity: Research technology designs or applications. |
| Activity: Set up equipment. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||||
| Development environment software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft .NET Framework | |||||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||
| SAS | |||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Access | |||||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||||
| Adobe Acrobat | |||||||||||||
| Geographic information system: | |||||||||||||
| ESRI ArcGIS software | |||||||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||||
| Adobe Photoshop | |||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||||
| Project management software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Project | |||||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word | |||||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||
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| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||
| Database software Thomson EndNote | |||||||||||||
| Geographic information system: | |||||||||||||
| Geographic information system GIS software | |||||||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||||
| Graphics software Harvard Graphics | |||||||||||||
| Map creation software: | |||||||||||||
| MapInfo MapMarker | |||||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||||
| Corel WordPerfect Office Suite | |||||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||||
| IBM Lotus 1-2-3 |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
| A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
| Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
| Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 48.8 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 29.4 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.3 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.8 (%) | Level of Education: Doctoral Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.4 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.4 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.0 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Doctoral Training |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.9 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 33.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 31.8 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.8 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 5.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 5.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Certified Professional Collector
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Fisheries Professional Associate
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Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Biological Technicians". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Biological Technicians
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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