DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

19-4021 Biological Technicians

Occupational Description:

Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2013
					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
EDR 10 - Southeast	320	3	$32.94/hr	$0.93/hr	$22.75/hr	$29.47/hr	$33.67/hr	$38.83/hr	$43.05/hr
Minnesota	1,070	76	$23.41/hr	$1.71/hr	$13.64/hr	$16.18/hr	$22.24/hr	$30.09/hr	$36.43/hr
U S	72,740	1,600	$20.76/hr	$0.12/hr	$12.32/hr	$15.26/hr	$19.37/hr	$24.97/hr	$31.62/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Leading Industries for Biological Technicians
Industry	OES Employment	OES Median Wage
Public Administration	20	$22.06/hr

Other Regional Data For Biological Technicians
Geography (click title for details)	OES		Projections
Geography (click title for details)	Employment	Median Wage	% Change -
EDR 11 - 7 County Twin Cities	470	$18.47/hr	N/A
EDR 10 - Southeast	320	$33.67/hr	N/A
EDR 3 - Arrowhead	110	$18.96/hr	N/A
EDR 9 - South Central	50	$16.51/hr	N/A
EDR 8 - Southwest	20	$18.68/hr	N/A
EDR 4 - West Central	20	$15.27/hr	N/A
EDR 6E- Southwest Central	10	$23.33/hr	N/A
EDR 7W- Central	N/A	$16.91/hr	N/A

Related Occupations
Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
Occupation (click title for details)	Employment	Median Wage	% Change -
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	1,080	$29.91/hr	N/A
Dietitians and Nutritionists	150	$29.53/hr	N/A
Veterinarians	40	$36.30/hr	N/A
Conservation Scientists	40	$27.48/hr	N/A

Tasks for Biological Technicians

Sets up laboratory and field equipment to assist research workers.
Plants seeds in specified area, and counts plants that grow, to determine germination rate of seeds.
Pricks animals, and collects blood samples for testing, using hand-held devices.
Records production and test data for evaluation by personnel.
Measures or weighs ingredients used in testing or as animal feed.
Adjusts testing equipment and prepares culture media, following standard procedures.
Waters and feeds rations to livestock and laboratory animals.
Examines animals and specimens to determine presence of disease or other problems.
Cleans and maintains laboratory and field equipment and work areas.