STEM Specialization

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduates earn $63,102 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,500 and $78,420. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

About Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians

This page covers Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Science Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians is a focused area of study within Science Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $63,102 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 106 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,240 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.


Median Earnings · 4yr
$63,102
Colleges Offering
106
Graduates / Year
1,240
Avg Net Price / yr
$11,234

How Much Do Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians, a typical graduate earns $63,102, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $35,500 and $78,420, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$63,102
4-Year National Median

Near the national median for college graduates.

$75,919
4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.


Earnings Range

Not every Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.


Why This Program Pays Off Fast

Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $63,102 against an estimated $44,936 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.

Based on outcomes from 15 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 1,240 students who complete Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians programs each year, the majority (61%) earn a associate's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Associate's 61%
Certificate 28%
Bachelor's 7%

What Can You Do With a Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Biological Technician pays the most at $57,510/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Biological Technician earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +7.4% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$57,510
$48K $72K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 9,400 openings/yr 70K employed nationally
Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Science Active Listening Active Learning
Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

  • Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
  • Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
  • Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.

Top Colleges for Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians

Not sure where to study Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Saint Louis University, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO · Nonprofit 79 75% $24,398 $70,783
2 Middlesex Community College Bedford, MA · Public 48 Open $2,624 $50,651
3 Montgomery College Rockville, MD · Public 26 Open $8,027 $50,159
4 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public 22 60.6% $32,875 $63,435
5 Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NY · Public 15 Open $8,501 $45,460
6 Bucks County Community College Newtown, PA · Public 15 Open $6,389 $47,324
7 Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI · Nonprofit 13 97.8% $17,707 $45,099
8 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI · Public 12 Open $11,407 $45,684
9 Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT · Public 10 Open $9,804 $47,867
10 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public 10 Open $14,238 $45,413
11 Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY · Public 7 Open $6,113 $36,343
12 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI · Public 7 Open $9,918 $44,553
13 Blinn College District Brenham, TX · Public 6 Open $10,844 $46,318
14 Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC · Public 6 Open $7,200 $34,139
15 Frederick Community College Frederick, MD · Public 6 Open $9,465 $46,449
16 Massachusetts Bay Community College Wellesley Hills, MA · Public 6 Open $7,169 $52,654
17 Triton College River Grove, IL · Public 5 Open $4,138 $41,728
18 Great Bay Community College Portsmouth, NH · Public 5 Open $15,768 $42,397
19 Windward Community College Kaneohe, HI · Public 5 Open $8,169 $38,439
20 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA · Public 4 Open $9,919 $53,557

Ranked by Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS
  • Above-average earnings Four-year median of $63,102 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
  • Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +7.4% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
CONS
  • Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
  • High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($35,500) and 75th ($78,420) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?
$63,102 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $35,500 and $78,420, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians degree?
Biological Technician is one path, and it pays a median of $57,510 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for a Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians?
106 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians degree worth it?
$63,102 median earnings four years out against $11,234 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians and Science Tech?
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians is the narrower of the two: Science Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.

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