Best Biological Technician programs in Wisconsin, 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.
33 schools in Wisconsin run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,889 people a year. The job pays a median of $51,750 in Wisconsin across about 1,800 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Wisconsin that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
16 programs in Wisconsin that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Wisconsin (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 Wisconsin page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology/Biological Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0101In Wisconsin → | 1,599 | 55.3% | 28 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Neurosciencemain feeder CIP 26.1501In Wisconsin → | 312 | 10.8% | 12 | $31,687 | $22,936 |
| 3 | CIP 26.0202In Wisconsin → | 279 | 9.7% | 11 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 4 | Biomedical Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 26.0102In Wisconsin → | 208 | 7.2% | 6 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 5 | CIP 26.0801In Wisconsin → | 123 | 4.3% | 1 | $31,800 | $21,424 |
| 6 | CIP 26.0502In Wisconsin → | 116 | 4.0% | 3 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 7 | CIP 26.0204In Wisconsin → | 103 | 3.6% | 3 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 8 | CIP 26.0701In Wisconsin → | 51 | 1.8% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 9 | Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technicianmain feeder CIP 41.0101In Wisconsin → | 32 | 1.1% | 3 | $38,858 | $12,609 |
| 10 | CIP 26.0708In Wisconsin → | 30 | 1.0% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 11 | Bioinformaticsmain feeder CIP 26.1103In Wisconsin → | 20 | 0.7% | 3 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 12 | Biostatisticsmain feeder CIP 26.1102In Wisconsin → | 4 | 0.1% | 1 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 13 | Marine Biology and Biological Oceanographymain feeder CIP 26.1302In Wisconsin → | 4 | 0.1% | 1 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 14 | CIP 26.0508In Wisconsin → | 4 | 0.1% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 15 | CIP 26.0503In Wisconsin → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $38,383 | $22,065 |
| 16 | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biologymain feeder CIP 26.0406In Wisconsin → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
Top 25 schools in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 20 of the 33 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 8 feeder programs | 1,296 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,798 | 90% | — | 45% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 262 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,823 | 71% | — | 76% |
| 3 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 210 | Biomedical Sciences, General | $28,555 | 83% | $25,376 | 81% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · 4 feeder programs | 119 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,507 | 64% | — | 82% |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Public · 4 feeder programs | 110 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,215 | 49% | — | 91% |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 74 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $33,100 | 51% | — | 92% |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 68 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,530 | 46% | — | 87% |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,752 | 56% | — | 89% |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,331 | 59% | — | 86% |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 64 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $34,762 | 57% | — | 82% |
| 11 | Lawrence University Appleton, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 62 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 77% | $19,788 | 64% |
| 12 | Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 61 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $31,734 | 71% | $23,319 | 86% |
| 13 | Carroll University Waukesha, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 57 | Animal Behavior and Ethology | $25,303 | 71% | $22,601 | 67% |
| 14 | Carthage College Kenosha, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 51 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $37,903 | 64% | $22,844 | 87% |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 43 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $29,947 | 48% | — | 89% |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 38 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $35,990 | 40% | — | 75% |
| 17 | Edgewood University Madison, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 37 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $51,134 | 60% | $23,822 | 76% |
| 18 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician | — | 29% | — | — |
| 19 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 26 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 64% | $19,138 | 78% |
| 20 | Beloit College Beloit, WI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 21 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 71% | $21,381 | 63% |
| 21 | Ripon College Ripon, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 20 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $43,250 | 63% | $19,267 | 80% |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin - Superior Superior, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 19 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,160 | 42% | — | 93% |
| 23 | Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 15 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 43% | $18,836 | 62% |
| 24 | Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Biochemistry | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Viterbo University La Crosse, WI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 68% | $20,655 | 72% |
All 33 schools in Wisconsin
Every school in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin - Madison | Madison | Public | 1,296 | 8 |
| University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | 262 | 3 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 210 | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public | 119 | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | 110 | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 74 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | 68 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Platteville | Platteville | Public | 67 | 1 |
| University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater | Public | 66 | 1 |
| University of Wisconsin - River Falls | River Falls | Public | 64 | 3 |
| Lawrence University | Appleton | Private not-for-profit | 62 | 3 |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere | Private not-for-profit | 61 | 2 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private not-for-profit | 57 | 3 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 51 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 43 | 1 |
What biological technicians earn in Wisconsin
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $57,510. Wisconsin pays below the national figure.
Concentrated here: Wisconsin employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin.
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 1,599 degrees in Wisconsin in 2024-25, 55.3% 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, Biochemistry, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 2,889 people a year in Wisconsin.
How much do biological technicians earn in Wisconsin?+
The median is $51,750 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 10.0% 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 Wisconsin?+
33 institutions in Wisconsin 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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