by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Science Technologies/Technicians explores Science Technologies/technicians, General. A General Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Scientific Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Scientific Research And Development. Includes Instruction In Standard Laboratory Practices And Procedures; Techniques For Analysis, Testing And Inspection; Laboratory Instrumentation And Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Laboratory And Materials Handling Safety; And Computer Applications. Examples: [Science Laboratory Technology]. Read on to learn the essential details every general science technologies/technicians major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general science technologies/technicians programs.
Nationwide, general science technologies/technicians is a widely-pursued major, with 102 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Science Technologies/Technicians Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general science technologies/technicians students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general science technologies/technicians programs later in this article.
Studies in General Science Technologies/Technicians emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general science technologies/technicians graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general science technologies/technicians program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general science technologies/technicians major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general science technologies/technicians 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 | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 44 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 44 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to general science technologies/technicians tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 30.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.3% |
| Some college courses | 8.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Master’s degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general science technologies/technicians careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general science technologies/technicians can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general science technologies/technicians.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general science technologies/technicians.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrologic Technicians | 139,812 | 4.0% |
| Quality Control Analysts | 105,873 | 12.9% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | 71,781 | 0.4% |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | 56,828 | 9.9% |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | 30,427 | -2.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general science technologies/technicians graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $71,144 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general science technologies/technicians graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general science technologies/technicians grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $119,992 |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | $99,834 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $95,957 |
| Hydrologic Technicians | $92,011 |
| Quality Control Analysts | $53,423 |
With 17 different general science technologies/technicians programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general science technologies/technicians school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
