by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 74 U.S. colleges awarded 1,215 degrees and certificates in Biology & Biotech Lab Technician. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Biology & Biotech Lab Technician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,858 one year after completing, rising to $69,092 after four years.
Medicine 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, biology & biotech lab technician draws strong interest, with 1,215 degrees awarded annually. 74 colleges award biology & biotech lab technician degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 154.
By level, the 1,215 awards include 162 certificates, 282 associate degrees, 60 bachelor’s degrees and 693 master’s degrees.
Women earned 64% of biology & biotech lab technician degrees and certificates in the latest year (783 of 1,215). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (516) and Hispanic or Latino (266), and international students earned 41.
College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Biology & Biotech Lab Technician Schools ranking, including 10 for associate degrees. It also ranks biology & biotech lab technician schools within 2 states. In all, 74 colleges offer biology & biotech lab technician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biology & Biotech Lab Technician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biology & biotech lab technician credential is the master’s degree: 693 of the 1,215 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biology & biotech lab technician call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Science, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Inductive Reasoning, Near Vision and Oral Comprehension.
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.
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How long a biology & biotech lab technician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 162 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 282 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 60 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 693 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biology & biotech lab technician, at 48.8%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Biology & Biotech Lab Technician, with an average median salary of $100,160; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Biology Research Assistant, Medical Research Assistant, Poultry Inseminator and Wildlife Biology Technician.
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.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biology & biotech lab technician, at 224,048.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
Biology & Biotech Lab Technician graduates earn a median $38,858 one year after completing their program, $69,092 after four years and $64,089 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,858 |
| 4 years | $69,092 |
| 5 years | $64,089 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to biology & biotech lab technician, with a median salary of $100,160.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
Biology & Biotech Lab Technician includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician (1,215). It has 4 similar majors in the Science Technologies field, which together award 5,873 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (2,966), Science Technologies/Technicians, Other (2,474) and Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (275). Browse all Science Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician | 1,215 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | 2,966 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | 2,474 |
| Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians | 275 |
| SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS | 158 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
