Biological technicians held about 79,300 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most biological technicians were as follows:
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
26%
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state
16
Federal government, excluding postal service
12
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private
10
Chemical manufacturing
9
Biological technicians typically work in laboratories and offices, where they conduct experiments and analyze the results under the supervision of biological scientists and medical scientists. Some biological technicians who do fieldwork may be exposed to weather events and wildlife, such as mosquitoes.
Biological technicians must follow strict procedures to avoid contaminating the experiment, themselves, or the environment. Some experiments may involve dangerous organisms or toxic substances.
Biological technicians work together on teams under the direction of biologists or other scientists.
Work Schedules
Most biological technicians work full time and keep regular hours.