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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Biological Technicians

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

Also called: Biological Science Lab Tech (Biological Science Laboratory Technician), Biological Science Technician (Biological Science Tech), Biologist Aide, Biologist Technician (Biologist Tech), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Fisheries Biological Technician (Fisheries Biological Tech)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$61,610
$29.62/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
7,320
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+0.2%
890 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$50,090$51,190$61,610$81,170$94,960

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
  • Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
  • Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.
  • Input data into databases.
  • Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
  • Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure50 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 54
  • Language-model AIOE 50
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 45

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has moderate AI exposure, and observed AI use is at some level so far. AI tools can help with entering data and organizing test results. Collecting samples, examining animals and specimens, and preparing specimens are hands-on tasks that AI tools do not do.

Likely to change

  • Entering data into databases
  • Organizing and checking recorded test data

Still relies on people

  • Collecting and preparing samples by hand
  • Examining animals and specimens for problems

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

86 programs near Boston (plus 65 graduate)

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