Biotechnical technician
Also called biotechnological technician, biotechnical laboratory worker, biotechnical laboratory employee
Biotechnical technicians perform technological work in assistance of scientists. They work in laboratory settings where they help scientists to research, develop and test forms of biotechnology. They set up lab equipment, prepare scientific tests and gather scientific data.
What you'd do
Life science technicians (excluding medical) · ILO- Assisting in designing, setting up and conducting experiments
- Setting up, calibrating, operating and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment
- Collecting and preparing specimens and samples, chemical solutions and slides and growing cultures for use in experiments
- Performing routine field and laboratory tests
- Monitoring experiments to ensure adherence to correct laboratory quality control procedures and health and safety guidelines
- Making observations of tests and analysing, calculating, recording and reporting test results using appropriate scientific methods
- Preserving, classifying and cataloguing specimens and samples
- Keeping detailed logs of worked performed
- Using computers to develop models and analyse data
- Using complex and high-powered equipment to perform work
- Participating in the research, development and manufacture of products and processes
- Ordering and stocking laboratory supplies
- Maintaining relevant databases
- Indoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Constant contact with people
- Some freedom to decide
- Usually 40 hours a week
- Deadlines most weeks
- Very repetitive tasks
Will there be jobs?
Average prospectsA typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
About averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Usually post-secondary or a short degreePost-secondary training or a short degree in biology is the usual route.
697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
In some tasksAI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.
Average task score 0.38 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 13 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for life science technicians (excluding medical). Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).