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.
Studying Biology & Biotech Lab Technician explores Biology/biotechnology Technologies/technicians. Read on to learn the important information every biology & biotech lab technician major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biology & biotech lab technician programs.
Across the country, biology & biotech lab technician draws strong interest, with 1,212 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biology & Biotech Lab Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 77 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biology & biotech lab technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biology & biotech lab technician programs later in this article.
Programs in Biology & Biotech Lab Technician develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biology & biotech lab technician graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills built by a biology & biotech lab technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a biology & biotech lab technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biology & biotech lab technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 147 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 285 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 40 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 727 |
People currently working in careers related to biology & biotech lab technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.8% |
| Master’s degree | 29.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 14.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.8% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biology & biotech lab technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Majoring in biology & biotech lab technician opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to biology & biotech lab technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biology & biotech lab technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of biology & biotech lab technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,858 |
| 4 years | $48,226 |
| 5 years | $64,089 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biology & biotech lab technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biology & biotech lab technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
With 77 different biology & biotech lab technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biology & biotech lab technician school rankings to help you.
Students interested in biology & biotech lab technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician | 1,212 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | 2,922 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | 2,518 |
| Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians | 338 |
| SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS | 102 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
