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Research associate: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$57,510median pay per year, or $27.65 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $40,330lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,13025th percentile
  3. $57,510median
  4. $71,52075th percentile
  5. $84,940top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Biological technicians, the official BLS category closest to a research associate in a biology lab, earned a median of $57,510 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the rate for all occupations over the next ten years[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.4%[2]
Openings per year
9,400[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do research associates make?

This page uses the BLS category Biological Technicians. Job titles vary, and O*NET lists titles such as Biological Science Technician and Microbiology Technician[8]. In May 2025 the median wage was $57,510 a year, or $27.65 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $61,380 a year, or $29.51 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,330 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $84,940[4]. BLS says a percentile is a boundary and that it does not publish a starting salary[10].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][11] $40,330 $19.39
25th[4][11] $48,130 $23.14
Median[1] $57,510 $27.65
75th[4][11] $71,520 $34.39
90th[4][11] $84,940 $40.84

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and they do not count bonuses or benefits[12]. Only 0.1% of biological technicians were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

BLS published median wages for 50 states and DC[14]. California was first at $71,440, then New Jersey at $66,040 and the District of Columbia at $64,770[14]. South Dakota was last at $41,300[14].

California also had the most jobs, with 9,210[15]. Massachusetts had 8,430, New York 5,050, Maryland 3,470 and Washington 3,210[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $95,220, followed by Trenton-Princeton, NJ at $77,170 and Boulder, CO at $75,390[16]. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton area had the most jobs, with 7,320 and a median of $61,610[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[14]$71,4409,210
New Jersey$66,0401,290
District of Columbia$64,770210
Connecticut$62,360650
Massachusetts$62,0708,430
North Carolina$61,7202,460
New York$61,2105,050
Washington$60,8003,210
Maine$60,160510
Colorado$59,4001,990
Indiana$58,7901,020
Delaware$58,550180
Mississippi$56,930330
Alaska$56,470410
Illinois$55,790790
New Hampshire$55,540240
North Dakota$55,330250
Pennsylvania$54,9502,820
Virginia$53,3601,820
Arizona$53,290830
South Carolina$53,040550
Utah$52,960710
Maryland$52,9003,470
Georgia$52,420860
Oregon$52,1901,590
Wisconsin$51,7501,800
Nevada$51,680280
Kansas$51,630480
West Virginia$51,440100
Vermont$51,190220
Ohio$51,0802,240
Michigan$51,0701,160
Tennessee$50,8401,240
Missouri$50,640620
Texas$50,1302,730
Montana$49,920430
New Mexico$49,570140
Alabama$49,220270
Kentucky$48,910260
Hawaii$48,770830
Florida$48,7003,170
Nebraska$48,220600
Minnesota$48,1301,400
Iowa$48,050800
Oklahoma$47,850360
Louisiana$47,310190
Arkansas$46,930420
Wyoming$46,480190
Rhode Island$45,530140
Idaho$42,130450
South Dakota$41,300230

How to become a research associate

Some positions are open to people with less than a bachelor's degree who have laboratory experience[18]. Technicians who work with animals may need an animal care certification from OSHA[21].

Technicians may move up to scientist roles, such as microbiologist, after a few years of experience or a graduate degree[22].

What biological technicians do

O*NET says they assist biological and medical scientists by setting up and running lab instruments, watching experiments and recording results[23]. Typical tasks include:

The handbook lists analytical skills, attention to detail and observation as important qualities[25][26][27].

Where they work

Biological technicians typically work in laboratories and offices. Some collect samples in the field, which can mean hiking rough terrain in harsh weather[28]. Some experiments involve dangerous organisms or toxic substances, so procedures must be followed[29]. Most work full time[30]. Scientific research and development services was the largest employer, with 33% of jobs[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of biological technicians to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 74,400 to 79,900 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. The projection counts self-employed workers, while the wage survey counted about 69,620 wage and salary jobs[32][2].

About 9,400 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 9.4% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe an occupation that typically needs a bachelor's degree but no related work experience[7]. Median pay is above the all-occupations median, and growth is projected to be faster than average[1][5][2][3]. Pay depends a lot on place, from a state median of $41,300 in South Dakota to $71,440 in California[14]. The work is mostly in labs and offices, and some of it is in the field or around hazardous materials[28][29].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a biological technician make a year?
The median wage was $57,510 a year in May 2025, and the average was $61,380[1][9].
How much does a biological technician make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $27.65 and the average was $29.51[1][9].
What degree do you need to be a biological technician?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. The handbook says biology or a related field[18].
Are biological technicians in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 9,400 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for biological technicians?
California had the highest median among states, at $71,440[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Biological Technicians in the US was $57,510 per year and $27.65 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Biological Technicians is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 74,400 to 79,900 jobs (a change of +5,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Biological Technicians: 10th percentile $40,330, 25th percentile $48,130, 75th percentile $71,520, 90th percentile $84,940. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 9,400 openings for Biological Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Biological Technicians: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 19-4021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 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), Marine Fisheries Technician (Marine Fisheries Tech), Microbiology Technician (Microbiology Tech). O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Biological Technicians was $61,380 per year and $29.51 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Biological Technicians: 10th percentile $19.39, 25th percentile $23.14, 75th percentile $34.39, 90th percentile $40.84. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 0.1% of Biological Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Biological Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Biological Technicians jobs: California 9,210; Massachusetts 8,430; New York 5,050; Maryland 3,470; Washington 3,210. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Biological Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $95,220; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $77,170; Boulder, CO $75,390; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $72,940; Worcester, MA $69,730; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $67,060; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $66,610; Charlottesville, VA $66,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Biological Technicians jobs: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 7,320 (median $61,610); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,270 (median $62,780); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 2,690 (median $95,220); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,020 (median $63,770); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,950 (median $60,630); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,830 (median $66,610). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Biological Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Biological Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of biological technicians in 2025: Scientific research and development services 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 69,620 people were employed as Biological Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Biological Technicians: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.