Best Biological Technician programs in Alabama, ranked by enrollment
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.
24 schools in Alabama run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,241 people a year. The job pays a median of $49,220 in Alabama across about 270 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Alabama that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
12 programs in Alabama that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Alabama (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Alabama page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology/Biological Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0101In Alabama → | 1,162 | 51.9% | 24 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Biomedical Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0102In Alabama → | 743 | 33.2% | 6 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 3 | Neurosciencemain feeder CIP 26.1501In Alabama → | 140 | 6.2% | 4 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 4 | CIP 26.0801In Alabama → | 65 | 2.9% | 2 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 5 | Marine Biology and Biological Oceanographymain feeder CIP 26.1302In Alabama → | 37 | 1.7% | 4 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 6 | CIP 26.0503In Alabama → | 33 | 1.5% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 7 | CIP 26.0502In Alabama → | 22 | 1.0% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 8 | Aquatic Biology/Limnologymain feeder CIP 26.1304In Alabama → | 15 | 0.7% | 1 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 9 | CIP 26.0202In Alabama → | 11 | 0.5% | 4 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 10 | Computational Biologymain feeder CIP 26.1104In Alabama → | 7 | 0.3% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 11 | Bioinformaticsmain feeder CIP 26.1103In Alabama → | 5 | 0.2% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 12 | Biostatisticsmain feeder CIP 26.1102In Alabama → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
Top 24 schools in Alabama
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 14 of the 24 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Public · 7 feeder programs | 569 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $28,127 | 64% | — | 88% |
| 2 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · 8 feeder programs | 549 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $22,132 | 82% | — | 46% |
| 3 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 282 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,848 | 73% | — | 77% |
| 4 | University of South Alabama Mobile, AL Public · 2 feeder programs | 150 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $25,950 | 53% | — | 71% |
| 5 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 90 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $33,236 | 55% | — | 78% |
| 6 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 89 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,775 | 64% | — | 69% |
| 7 | Alabama A & M University Normal, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 69 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,098 | 24% | — | 58% |
| 8 | Alabama State University Montgomery, AL Public · 2 feeder programs | 69 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,174 | 30% | — | 98% |
| 9 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 52 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,593 | 55% | — | 87% |
| 10 | Troy University Troy, AL Public · 3 feeder programs | 49 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,057 | 50% | — | 96% |
| 11 | Miles College Fairfield, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 42 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 16% | $16,735 | — |
| 12 | Oakwood University Huntsville, AL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 42 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 45% | $23,870 | 45% |
| 13 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 38 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $14,102 | 55% | $33,313 | 49% |
| 14 | Samford University Birmingham, AL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 32 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 77% | $28,160 | 82% |
| 15 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,385 | 33% | — | 92% |
| 16 | Athens State University Athens, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,907 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Spring Hill College Mobile, AL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 20 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 52% | $14,119 | 77% |
| 18 | University of West Alabama Livingston, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,019 | 35% | — | 43% |
| 19 | Stillman College Tuscaloosa, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 25% | $13,151 | 62% |
| 20 | Huntingdon College Montgomery, AL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 48% | $21,604 | 69% |
| 21 | University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 9 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 54% | — | 54% |
| 22 | Talladega College Talladega, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 31% | $15,807 | 85% |
| 23 | Faulkner University Montgomery, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 37% | $25,801 | 73% |
| 24 | University of Mobile Mobile, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 57% | $19,817 | 78% |
All 24 schools in Alabama
Every school in Alabama with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Public | 569 | 7 |
| Auburn University | Auburn | Public | 549 | 8 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | Public | 282 | 4 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | Public | 150 | 2 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | Public | 90 | 1 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville | Public | 89 | 1 |
| Alabama A & M University | Normal | Public | 69 | 1 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery | Public | 69 | 2 |
| University of North Alabama | Florence | Public | 52 | 1 |
| Troy University | Troy | Public | 49 | 3 |
| Miles College | Fairfield | Private not-for-profit | 42 | 1 |
| Oakwood University | Huntsville | Private not-for-profit | 42 | 3 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | Private not-for-profit | 38 | 2 |
| Samford University | Birmingham | Private not-for-profit | 32 | 4 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Public | 29 | 1 |
What biological technicians earn in Alabama
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $57,510. Alabama pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Alabama
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Biological Technicians page.
How to become a Biological Technician
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Alabama
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 19 majors mapped to Biological Technicians19 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 26.0102Biomedical Sciences, General
- 26.0202Biochemistry
- 26.0204Molecular Biology
- 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 26.0502Microbiology, General
- 26.0503Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- 26.0508Microbiology and Immunology
- 26.0701Zoology/Animal Biology
- 26.0708Animal Behavior and Ethology
- 26.0709Wildlife Biology
- 26.0801Genetics, General
- 26.1102Biostatistics
- 26.1103Bioinformatics
- 26.1104Computational Biology
- 26.1302Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- 26.1304Aquatic Biology/Limnology
- 26.1501Neuroscience
- 41.0101Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician
Common questions
Answers for people weighing biological technicians programs in Alabama.
What degree do you need to become a Biological Technician?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 1,162 degrees in Alabama in 2024-25, 51.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Biological Technician?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 12 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Genetics, Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, plus 3 more. Together they graduate about 2,241 people a year in Alabama.
How much do biological technicians earn in Alabama?+
The median is $49,220 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 14.4% below the U.S. median of $57,510. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for biological technicians growing?+
BLS projects a +3.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 9,100 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Alabama?+
24 institutions in Alabama reported graduates from at least one of the 12 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do biological technicians work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Research Associate, Research Technician, Biological Technician, Laboratory Technician among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-4021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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