Best Biological Technician programs in North Carolina, 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.
57 schools in North Carolina run programs that feed this job, graduating 4,839 people a year. The job pays a median of $61,720 in North Carolina across about 2,460 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in North Carolina that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
16 programs in North Carolina that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in North Carolina (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 North Carolina page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology/Biological Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0101In North Carolina → | 3,519 | 72.7% | 50 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Neurosciencemain feeder CIP 26.1501In North Carolina → | 322 | 6.7% | 4 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 3 | CIP 26.0202In North Carolina → | 197 | 4.1% | 18 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 4 | Biostatisticsmain feeder CIP 26.1102In North Carolina → | 144 | 3.0% | 2 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 5 | Biomedical Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0102In North Carolina → | 139 | 2.9% | 12 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Marine Biology and Biological Oceanographymain feeder CIP 26.1302In North Carolina → | 118 | 2.4% | 2 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 7 | CIP 26.0701In North Carolina → | 79 | 1.6% | 2 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 8 | CIP 26.0709In North Carolina → | 71 | 1.5% | 2 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 9 | Bioinformaticsmain feeder CIP 26.1103In North Carolina → | 60 | 1.2% | 3 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 10 | CIP 26.0801In North Carolina → | 55 | 1.1% | 2 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 11 | Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technicianmain feeder CIP 41.0101In North Carolina → | 53 | 1.1% | 6 | $38,858 | $12,609 |
| 12 | CIP 26.0502In North Carolina → | 43 | 0.9% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 13 | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biologymain feeder CIP 26.0406In North Carolina → | 15 | 0.3% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 14 | CIP 26.0204In North Carolina → | 13 | 0.3% | 3 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 15 | CIP 26.0503In North Carolina → | 10 | 0.2% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 16 | CIP 26.0508In North Carolina → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
Top 25 schools in North Carolina
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 30 of the 57 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · 8 feeder programs | 956 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $33,471 | 91% | — | 15% |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · 7 feeder programs | 659 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,157 | 85% | — | 42% |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 409 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,094 | 69% | — | 80% |
| 4 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 397 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,939 | 97% | $16,260 | 6% |
| 5 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · 4 feeder programs | 289 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,992 | 63% | — | 89% |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 287 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,925 | 71% | — | 64% |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 257 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,922 | 56% | — | 89% |
| 8 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 197 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,946 | 75% | — | 90% |
| 9 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 120 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,660 | 57% | — | 50% |
| 10 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 85 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,666 | 89% | $20,914 | 22% |
| 11 | Davidson College Davidson, NC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 77 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $39,602 | 91% | $16,628 | 13% |
| 12 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 76 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,147 | 44% | — | 93% |
| 13 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 72 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,381 | 60% | — | 82% |
| 14 | High Point University High Point, NC Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 71 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 74% | $37,072 | 75% |
| 15 | Lees - McRae College Banner Elk, NC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 69 | Wildlife Biology | $24,921 | 42% | $23,349 | 77% |
| 16 | North Carolina Central University Durham, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 66 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $30,423 | 42% | — | 87% |
| 17 | Wingate University Wingate, NC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 58 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $27,729 | 46% | $21,585 | 91% |
| 18 | Elon University Elon, NC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 54 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,683 | 84% | $33,688 | 66% |
| 19 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 53 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $43,182 | 70% | $19,552 | 74% |
| 20 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 49 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,332 | 38% | — | 82% |
| 21 | Winston - Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 45 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,719 | 47% | — | 78% |
| 22 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NC Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 40 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,579 | 61% | $23,331 | 87% |
| 23 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $27,943 | 54% | — | 92% |
| 24 | Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 27 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 44% | — | 64% |
| 25 | Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 25 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 47% | $22,639 | 75% |
All 57 schools in North Carolina
Every school in North Carolina 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | Public | 956 | 8 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh | Public | 659 | 7 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte | Public | 409 | 3 |
| Duke University | Durham | Private not-for-profit | 397 | 8 |
| East Carolina University | Greenville | Public | 289 | 4 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 287 | 3 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | 257 | 2 |
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Public | 197 | 1 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 120 | 1 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 85 | 4 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 77 | 1 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 76 | 1 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 72 | 1 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 71 | 5 |
| Lees - McRae College | Banner Elk | Private not-for-profit | 69 | 2 |
What biological technicians earn in North Carolina
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $57,510. North Carolina pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in North Carolina
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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina.
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 3,519 degrees in North Carolina in 2024-25, 72.7% 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 16 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Biomathematics, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 4,839 people a year in North Carolina.
How much do biological technicians earn in North Carolina?+
The median is $61,720 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 7.3% 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 North Carolina?+
57 institutions in North Carolina reported graduates from at least one of the 16 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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