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Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Degree Guide

1,215 Degrees Awarded
74 Schools Offering Degrees
$38,858 Median Pay 1 Year After Graduation

In the latest year, 74 U.S. colleges awarded 1,215 degrees and certificates in Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory 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.

A major in Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician explores Biology/biotechnology Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Scientific Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Biologists And Biotechnologists In Research, Industrial, And Government Settings. Includes Instruction In Fermentation Technology, Cell Culturing, Protein Purification, Biologic Synthesis, Assaying And Testing, Quality Control, Industrial Microbiology, Bioprocessing, Chromatography And Bioseparation, Genetic Technology, Laboratory And Hazardous Materials Safety, And Computer Applications. Examples: [Biotechnology Laboratory Technician], [Biology Laboratory Technician].

Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.

Nationwide, biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician is a popular field of study, with 1,215 degrees awarded annually. 74 colleges award biology technician/biotechnology laboratory 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 technician/biotechnology laboratory 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.

What Are the Best Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Schools?

College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Schools ranking, including 10 for associate degrees. It also ranks biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician schools within 2 states. In all, 74 colleges offer biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.

2027 Best Colleges for Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
2027 Overall Best Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Colleges >
Associate Degrees in Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
Bachelor's Degrees in Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
Master's Degrees in Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician

What Are the Requirements for a Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Degree?

The most common biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician credential is the master’s degree: 693 of the 1,215 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biology technician/biotechnology laboratory 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 Oral Comprehension, Near Vision and Inductive Reasoning.

Skills You Will Develop

Top skills, rated 0–5:

Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5

Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Science  3.8 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Active Learning  3.5 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:

Biology  4.4 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.8 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.3 / 5
0
5
Computers and Electronics  3.2 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  3.2 / 5
0
5

Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Degree Types

How long a biology technician/biotechnology laboratory 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 technician/biotechnology laboratory 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%
High school diploma or equivalent 1.4%
Some college courses 1.4%
Post-doctoral training 1.0%
Postsecondary certificate 0.9%

Level of education for Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician workers

Source: O*NET Online.

What Can You Do With a Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Degree?

1 occupations are related to Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory 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 Bioprocess Associate, Biotechnologist, Marine Fisheries Technician and Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Biological Science Lab Tech).

1 Related Occupations
$100,160 Average Median Salary
12.8% Growth Top Job Outlook

In-Demand Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Careers

That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician, at 224,048.

Occupation Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Biological Technicians 224,048 12.8%

How Much Do Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Graduates Make?

Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory 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.

Median earnings for Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician graduates by years after completion
Years Out Median Earnings
1 year $38,858
4 years $69,092
5 years $64,089

Source: College Scorecard.

Highest Paid Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician Careers

The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician, with a median salary of $100,160.

Occupation Median Annual Salary
Biological Technicians $100,160

References

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