How long does it take to become a biological technician?

Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do biological technicians make?

The US median is $57,510 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a biological technician?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train to become a biological technician?

1,780 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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How to become a biological technician

Science · SOC 19-4021

$57,510US median pay, 2025

+7.4%Projected growth, 2025–35

9,400Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Bachelor's degree
Work as a biological technician

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Biology/Biological Sciences, General	CIP 26.0101	1,632
Biochemistry	CIP 26.0202	580
Neuroscience	CIP 26.1501	316
Biomedical Sciences, General	CIP 26.0102	289
Microbiology, General	CIP 26.0502	112
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology	CIP 26.0406	99
Bioinformatics	CIP 26.1103	96
Biostatistics	CIP 26.1102	91
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography	CIP 26.1302	87
Molecular Biology	CIP 26.0204	74
Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician	CIP 41.0101	70
Zoology/Animal Biology	CIP 26.0701	46
Genetics, General	CIP 26.0801	36
Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology	CIP 26.0503	34
Microbiology and Immunology	CIP 26.0508	32
Computational Biology	CIP 26.1104	28
Wildlife Biology	CIP 26.0709	24
Animal Behavior and Ethology	CIP 26.0708	11
Aquatic Biology/Limnology	CIP 26.1304	7

See the 1,780 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a biological technician?: Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do biological technicians make?: The US median is $57,510 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a biological technician?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train to become a biological technician?: 1,780 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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