Georgia·Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations·SOC 19-4021

Best Biological Technician programs in Georgia, 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.

55 schools in Georgia run programs that feed this job, graduating 4,369 people a year. The job pays a median of $52,420 in Georgia across about 860 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledResearch AssociateResearch TechnicianBiological TechnicianLaboratory TechnicianSeed AnalystBiotechnicianBabcock TesterBiologist Aide
Graduates / yr
4,369
in Georgia
Median pay · Georgia
$52,420
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
860
people employed
Schools
55
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
45%
across those schools
Median net price
$21,022
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Georgia that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
3,222graduates / yr
49 schools · 2 specializations · 73.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
461graduates / yr
8 schools · 1 specialization · 10.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
179graduates / yr
3 schools · 3 specializations · 4.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
166graduates / yr
9 schools · 1 specialization · 3.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.07
Zoology/Animal Biology
116graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 2.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,266
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.08
Genetics
80graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 1.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,800
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
47graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 1.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Science Technologies/Technicians
CIP 41.01
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
40graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,858
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
36graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
22graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460

14 programs in Georgia that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Georgia (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 Georgia page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 26.0101In Georgia
3,089
70.7%
49$32,152$25,000
2
Neurosciencemain feeder
CIP 26.1501In Georgia
461
10.6%
8$31,687$22,936
3
CIP 26.0202In Georgia
166
3.8%
9$38,243$23,014
4
CIP 26.0102In Georgia
133
3.0%
7$32,152$25,000
5
CIP 26.0701In Georgia
115
2.6%
2$28,266$24,393
6
Biostatisticsmain feeder
CIP 26.1102In Georgia
87
2.0%
3$72,338$18,500
7
Bioinformaticsmain feeder
CIP 26.1103In Georgia
85
1.9%
2$72,338$18,500
8
CIP 26.0801In Georgia
80
1.8%
1$31,800$21,424
9
CIP 26.0502In Georgia
47
1.1%
1$38,383$22,065
10
CIP 41.0101In Georgia
40
0.9%
4$38,858$12,609
11
CIP 26.0406In Georgia
36
0.8%
1$35,393$19,961
12
CIP 26.1302In Georgia
22
0.5%
2$29,460$23,480
13
CIP 26.1104In Georgia
7
0.2%
1$72,338$18,500
14
CIP 26.0709In Georgia
1
0.0%
1$28,266$24,393

Top 25 schools in Georgia

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 27 of the 55 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1University of Georgia
Athens, GA Public · 10 feeder programs
666Biology/Biological Sciences, General$27,63890%38%
2Emory University
Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
552Neuroscience$26,66391%$20,58611%
3Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA Public · 3 feeder programs
544Biology/Biological Sciences, General$26,64753%55%
4Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Atlanta, GA Public · 5 feeder programs
397Biology/Biological Sciences, General$19,16794%14%
5Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA Public · 2 feeder programs
344Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,53052%69%
6Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA Public · 2 feeder programs
198Biology/Biological Sciences, General$27,19555%88%
7Mercer University
Macon, GA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
146Biology/Biological Sciences, General$22,10070%$22,64169%
8University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
133Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,00737%68%
9Berry College
Mount Berry, GA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
119Zoology/Animal Biology$33,25869%$20,10864%
10Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
90Biology/Biological Sciences, General21%95%
11University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
88Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,55043%52%
12Augusta University
Augusta, GA Public · 3 feeder programs
81Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,97849%86%
13Spelman College
Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
68Biology/Biological Sciences, General$21,63878%$35,13225%
14Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
68Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,62842%72%
15Savannah State University
Savannah, GA Public · 2 feeder programs
64Biology/Biological Sciences, General$26,11428%
16Georgia College & State University
Milledgeville, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
63Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,55064%78%
17Albany State University
Albany, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
53Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,58831%
18Morehouse College
Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
51Biology/Biological Sciences, General$19,67959%$36,43144%
19Dalton State College
Dalton, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
50Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,83925%
20Columbus State University
Columbus, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
46Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,94742%99%
21Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
45Biology/Biological Sciences, General38%
22Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
40Biology/Biological Sciences, General$24,76349%$36,71764%
23Life University
Marietta, GA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
39Biology/Biological Sciences, General38%$30,66793%
24Oglethorpe University
Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
37Biology/Biological Sciences, General$27,33754%$21,02288%
25Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
35Biology/Biological Sciences, General$26,37941%66%

All 55 schools in Georgia

Every school in Georgia 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.

All schools in Georgia that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
University of GeorgiaAthensPublic66610
Emory UniversityAtlantaPrivate not-for-profit5524
Georgia State UniversityAtlantaPublic5443
Georgia Institute of Technology - Main CampusAtlantaPublic3975
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesawPublic3442
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboroPublic1982
Mercer UniversityMaconPrivate not-for-profit1464
University of North GeorgiaDahlonegaPublic1331
Berry CollegeMount BerryPrivate not-for-profit1193
Georgia Gwinnett CollegeLawrencevillePublic901
University of West GeorgiaCarrolltonPublic881
Augusta UniversityAugustaPublic813
Spelman CollegeAtlantaPrivate not-for-profit682
Valdosta State UniversityValdostaPublic681
Savannah State UniversitySavannahPublic642

What biological technicians earn in Georgia

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Georgia
$52,420
Mean annual
$55,190
Jobs in state
860
What the range looks like
10th pct$42,940Median$52,42090th pct$72,420
Versus the national median
-8.9%

U.S. median $57,510. Georgia pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.39×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Georgia

Athens-Clarke County, GA
$64,360median
60 jobs
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
$53,370median
320 jobs
Gainesville, GA
$47,620median
90 jobs
Savannah, GA
$50,260median
40 jobs
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
$49,730median
40 jobs
Warner Robins, GA
$47,350median
40 jobs
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA
$45,360median
40 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+3.5%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
9,100
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
2,900
82,700 → 85,600
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

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

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningScienceActive LearningWriting

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Georgia

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 Georgia.

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 3,089 degrees in Georgia in 2024-25, 70.7% 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 14 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Biomathematics, Biochemistry, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 4,369 people a year in Georgia.

How much do biological technicians earn in Georgia?+

The median is $52,420 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 8.9% 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 Georgia?+

55 institutions in Georgia reported graduates from at least one of the 14 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 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected 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 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, 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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