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

Best Biological Technician programs in New York, 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.

114 schools in New York run programs that feed this job, graduating 9,691 people a year. The job pays a median of $61,210 in New York across about 5,050 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledResearch AssociateResearch TechnicianBiological TechnicianLaboratory TechnicianSeed AnalystBiotechnicianBabcock TesterBiologist Aide
Graduates / yr
9,691
in New York
Median pay · New York
$61,210
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
5,050
people employed
Schools
114
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
61%
across those schools
Median net price
$24,675
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in New York 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
7,048graduates / yr
103 schools · 2 specializations · 72.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
964graduates / yr
31 schools · 1 specialization · 9.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
714graduates / yr
58 schools · 2 specializations · 7.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
502graduates / yr
9 schools · 3 specializations · 5.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.07
Zoology/Animal Biology
138graduates / yr
2 schools · 3 specializations · 1.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,266
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
91graduates / yr
5 schools · 3 specializations · 1.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
88graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
82graduates / yr
1 schools · 2 specializations · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.08
Genetics
56graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 0.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,800
Science Technologies/Technicians
CIP 41.01
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
8graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,858

19 programs in New York that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in New York (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 New York 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 New York
6,006
62.0%
103$32,152$25,000
2
CIP 26.0102In New York
1,042
10.8%
25$32,152$25,000
3
Neurosciencemain feeder
CIP 26.1501In New York
964
9.9%
31$31,687$22,936
4
CIP 26.0202In New York
653
6.7%
58$38,243$23,014
5
Biostatisticsmain feeder
CIP 26.1102In New York
348
3.6%
8$72,338$18,500
6
Bioinformaticsmain feeder
CIP 26.1103In New York
122
1.3%
9$72,338$18,500
7
CIP 26.0406In New York
88
0.9%
4$35,393$19,961
8
CIP 26.1302In New York
72
0.7%
1$29,460$23,480
9
CIP 26.0708In New York
63
0.7%
2$28,266$24,393
10
CIP 26.0204In New York
61
0.6%
6$38,243$23,014
11
CIP 26.0801In New York
56
0.6%
5$31,800$21,424
12
CIP 26.0508In New York
54
0.6%
5$38,383$22,065
13
CIP 26.0701In New York
38
0.4%
2$28,266$24,393
14
CIP 26.0709In New York
37
0.4%
1$28,266$24,393
15
CIP 26.1104In New York
32
0.3%
5$72,338$18,500
16
CIP 26.0502In New York
29
0.3%
4$38,383$22,065
17
CIP 26.1304In New York
10
0.1%
1$29,460$23,480
18
CIP 41.0101In New York
8
0.1%
4$38,858$12,609
19
CIP 26.0503In New York
8
0.1%
2$38,383$22,065

Top 25 schools in New York

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 65 of the 114 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Binghamton University
Vestal, NY Public · 3 feeder programs
822Biology/Biological Sciences, General$25,01682%39%
2New York University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs
802Biomedical Sciences, General$30,91388%$29,0239%
3Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY Public · 9 feeder programs
756Biology/Biological Sciences, General$25,25376%49%
4Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs
593Biostatistics96%$15,3154%
5University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY Public · 7 feeder programs
437Biology/Biological Sciences, General$29,89275%74%
6Cornell University
Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
348Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,50095%$17,6139%
7University of Rochester
Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs
335Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,39085%$25,87440%
8St. John's University - New York
Queens, NY Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
303Biology/Biological Sciences, General$23,47366%$27,35983%
9University at Albany
Albany, NY Public · 3 feeder programs
203Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,09961%69%
10CUNY City College
New York, NY Public · 3 feeder programs
193Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,32457%60%
11CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs
178Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,25757%54%
12Fordham University
Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
156Biology/Biological Sciences, General$33,59482%$38,93159%
13Adelphi University
Garden City, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
149Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,10167%$27,32666%
14New York Institute of Technology
Old Westbury, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
146Biology/Biological Sciences, General$20,88359%$22,15881%
15Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
140Biology/Biological Sciences, General$34,84184%$28,85146%
16Colgate University
Hamilton, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
128Neuroscience91%$22,90314%
17Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
127Biomedical Sciences, General
18College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY Public · 3 feeder programs
119Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,21734%92%
19Barnard College
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
114Neuroscience$24,56993%$24,6759%
20Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
114Biology/Biological Sciences, General$37,80291%$29,10719%
21SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, NY Public · 3 feeder programs
112Biology/Biological Sciences, General$31,06071%66%
22Long Island University
Brookville, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
110Biology/Biological Sciences, General$25,67957%$24,63986%
23Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
108Biomedical Sciences, General$34,63070%$28,13367%
24Touro University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
104Biology/Biological Sciences, General$21,73372%$27,11061%
25CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
97Biology/Biological Sciences, General$26,61254%58%

All 114 schools in New York

Every school in New York 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 New York that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Binghamton UniversityVestalPublic8223
New York UniversityNew YorkPrivate not-for-profit8027
Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookPublic7569
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkPrivate not-for-profit59310
University at BuffaloBuffaloPublic4377
Cornell UniversityIthacaPrivate not-for-profit3486
University of RochesterRochesterPrivate not-for-profit3358
St. John's University - New YorkQueensPrivate not-for-profit3035
University at AlbanyAlbanyPublic2033
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkPublic1933
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew YorkPublic1782
Fordham UniversityBronxPrivate not-for-profit1563
Adelphi UniversityGarden CityPrivate not-for-profit1494
New York Institute of TechnologyOld WestburyPrivate not-for-profit1462
Syracuse UniversitySyracusePrivate not-for-profit1402

What biological technicians earn in New York

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

Median annual in New York
$61,210
Mean annual
$60,960
Jobs in state
5,050
What the range looks like
10th pct$39,040Median$61,21090th pct$79,630
Versus the national median
+6.4%

U.S. median $57,510. New York pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.16×

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

Metro areas in New York

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
$60,580median
840 jobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$62,780median
3,270 jobs
Syracuse, NY
$63,060median
170 jobs
Ithaca, NY
$60,900median
80 jobs
Rochester, NY
$47,670median
110 jobs
Utica-Rome, NY
$48,670median
Kingston, NY
$47,530median
30 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 New York

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 New York.

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 6,006 degrees in New York in 2024-25, 62.0% 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 19 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Biomathematics, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 9,691 people a year in New York.

How much do biological technicians earn in New York?+

The median is $61,210 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 6.4% 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 New York?+

114 institutions in New York reported graduates from at least one of the 19 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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