Best Biological Technician programs in Massachusetts, 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.
66 schools in Massachusetts run programs that feed this job, graduating 5,561 people a year. The job pays a median of $62,070 in Massachusetts across about 8,430 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Massachusetts that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
15 programs in Massachusetts that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Massachusetts (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 Massachusetts page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology/Biological Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0101In Massachusetts → | 2,944 | 52.9% | 61 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Neurosciencemain feeder CIP 26.1501In Massachusetts → | 871 | 15.7% | 20 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 3 | CIP 26.0202In Massachusetts → | 418 | 7.5% | 21 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 4 | Biomedical Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0102In Massachusetts → | 299 | 5.4% | 8 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 5 | Bioinformaticsmain feeder CIP 26.1103In Massachusetts → | 248 | 4.5% | 6 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 6 | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biologymain feeder CIP 26.0406In Massachusetts → | 223 | 4.0% | 6 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 7 | Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technicianmain feeder CIP 41.0101In Massachusetts → | 131 | 2.4% | 5 | $38,858 | $12,609 |
| 8 | Biostatisticsmain feeder CIP 26.1102In Massachusetts → | 126 | 2.3% | 4 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 9 | CIP 26.0204In Massachusetts → | 98 | 1.8% | 3 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 10 | CIP 26.0502In Massachusetts → | 67 | 1.2% | 2 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 11 | Marine Biology and Biological Oceanographymain feeder CIP 26.1302In Massachusetts → | 65 | 1.2% | 2 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 12 | Computational Biologymain feeder CIP 26.1104In Massachusetts → | 60 | 1.1% | 2 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 13 | CIP 26.0508In Massachusetts → | 5 | 0.1% | 2 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 14 | CIP 26.0801In Massachusetts → | 4 | 0.1% | 2 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 15 | CIP 26.0708In Massachusetts → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
Top 25 schools in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 34 of the 66 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 764 | Neuroscience | $43,894 | 91% | $18,925 | 5% |
| 2 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 612 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $40,165 | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MA Public · 5 feeder programs | 439 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $40,427 | 83% | — | 60% |
| 4 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 417 | Neuroscience | $46,993 | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 5 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 371 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,592 | 91% | $21,126 | 16% |
| 6 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 360 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $39,016 | 94% | $23,570 | 11% |
| 7 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 262 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $37,475 | 86% | $25,074 | 40% |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 241 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $42,721 | 49% | — | 84% |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 138 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $46,526 | 65% | — | 83% |
| 10 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 106 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 96% | $11,666 | 5% |
| 11 | Middlesex Community College Bedford, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 99 | Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician | — | 23% | — | — |
| 12 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 98 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | 62% | $35,358 | 85% |
| 13 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 97 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $51,711 | 90% | $32,926 | 60% |
| 14 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 94 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $43,276 | 87% | $24,533 | 18% |
| 15 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 92 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $39,270 | 84% | $26,083 | 36% |
| 16 | Smith College Northampton, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 77 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,747 | 89% | $17,183 | 21% |
| 17 | Emmanuel College Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 76 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $45,275 | 68% | $29,723 | 76% |
| 18 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 72 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $26,661 | 73% | $26,445 | 68% |
| 19 | Salem State University Salem, MA Public · 3 feeder programs | 69 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $45,670 | 50% | — | 96% |
| 20 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 68 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,621 | 92% | $19,292 | 14% |
| 21 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 64 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $44,626 | 53% | — | 88% |
| 22 | University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Worcester, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 59 | Biomedical Sciences, General | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 54 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $41,204 | 52% | — | 91% |
| 24 | Merrimack College North Andover, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 50 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $41,506 | 70% | $33,877 | 70% |
| 25 | Quincy College Quincy, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 46 | Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician | — | 15% | — | — |
All 66 schools in Massachusetts
Every school in Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 764 | 7 |
| Boston University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 612 | 10 |
| University of Massachusetts - Amherst | Amherst | Public | 439 | 5 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 417 | 9 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Private not-for-profit | 371 | 3 |
| Tufts University | Medford | Private not-for-profit | 360 | 6 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 262 | 5 |
| University of Massachusetts - Boston | Boston | Public | 241 | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts - Lowell | Lowell | Public | 138 | 1 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 106 | 3 |
| Middlesex Community College | Bedford | Public | 99 | 2 |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 98 | 2 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 97 | 3 |
| College of the Holy Cross | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 94 | 2 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 92 | 3 |
What biological technicians earn in Massachusetts
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $57,510. Massachusetts pays above the national figure.
Concentrated here: Massachusetts employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts.
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 2,944 degrees in Massachusetts in 2024-25, 52.9% 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 15 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Biomathematics, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 5,561 people a year in Massachusetts.
How much do biological technicians earn in Massachusetts?+
The median is $62,070 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 7.9% above 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 Massachusetts?+
66 institutions in Massachusetts reported graduates from at least one of the 15 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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