Biological Technicians
SOC Code: 19-4021 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Biological Technicians. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $55,266 | $68,557 | $81,827 | $95,118 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $55,786 | $68,661 | $81,557 | $94,432 |
| Vallejo, CA | $53,186 | $66,227 | $79,269 | $92,310 |
| Modesto, CA | $53,373 | $66,331 | $79,269 | $92,227 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51,106 | $63,107 | $75,088 | $87,090 |
| Napa, CA | $45,032 | $57,616 | $70,179 | $82,763 |
| Merced, CA | $44,325 | $56,035 | $67,766 | $79,477 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,634 | $57,450 | $68,245 | $79,061 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $48,048 | $58,302 | $68,536 | $78,790 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,861 | $57,741 | $67,621 | $77,501 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | 30 | $44,932 |
| Stowers Institute for Medical Research | 6 | $54,123 |
| Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences | 4 | $54,693 |
| Texas A&M University | 3 | $37,000 |
| Legend Biotech USA, Inc. | 3 | $79,559 |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport | 3 | $52,667 |
| Children's National Medical Center | 2 | $52,563 |
| Howard University | 1 | $42,723 |
| University of Idaho | 1 | $31,658 |
| BPG Bio Inc. | 1 | $63,500 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | $40,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | $42,354 |
| 2022 | 9 | $45,272 |
| 2023 | 11 | $42,818 |
| 2024 | 12 | $51,297 |
| 2025 | 11 | $55,210 |
| 2026 | 5 | $57,813 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Science | 3.8 | |
| Active Learning | 3.5 | |
| Writing | 3.4 | |
| Speaking | 3.2 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.2 | |
| Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Biology | 4.4 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.2 |
| Chemistry | 3.2 |
| Education and Training | 2.4 |
| Administrative | 2.2 |
| Law and Government | 2.1 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 48.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.4% |
| Master's degree | 14.3% |
| Post-first professional | 2.8% |
| High school diploma | 1.4% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 1.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
- Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
- Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
- Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
- Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
- Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.
- Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
- Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Adobe Photoshop ESRI ArcGIS software Microsoft .NET Framework Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Word SAS BD Biosciences CellQuest BoxShade ClustalW
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