Biological technicians set up, maintain and clean lab instruments, gather and prepare samples such as blood, food and bacteria cultures, run biological tests and experiments, document procedures and results, analyze data and write reports. The BLS notes that they use computer software to collect, analyze and model experimental data. The bench work itself is hands-on.
The short answer: moderate exposure, with strong growth projected. The ILO's 2025 index rates life science technicians (excluding medical) at gradient 1, the least exposed of the four gradients, with a score of 0.38. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 9,400 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed biological technicians are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Life Science Technicians (excluding Medical) | Gradient 1 | 0.38 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Biological technicians | Grow 7% | About 9,400 |
The BLS expects demand for biological and medical research to contribute to the need for biological technicians. It says synthetic biology is expected to create jobs for workers who redesign biological systems for medical, manufacturing and agriculture uses, and that continued growth in biotechnology research, such as using cells to deliver drugs within the human body, is expected to support demand. Many projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Where AI is helping
- Analyzing experimental data, alongside the software technicians already use.
- Drafting reports and summaries of results.
- Organizing records of procedures and observations.
What stays with biological technicians
- Bench work: preparing samples and running tests and experiments.
- Equipment: setting up, maintaining and cleaning lab instruments.
- Careful records: documenting exactly what was done and seen.
- Checking AI help: generated analyses and summaries can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS ties growth to biological and medical research, synthetic biology and biotechnology. Hands-on lab skills stay central, with software and AI tools helping on the data side. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace lab technicians?, will AI replace chemical technicians? and will AI replace agricultural technicians?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for biological technicians at $57,510 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace biological technicians?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 7 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,400 openings a year.
How exposed are biological technicians to AI?
The ILO rates life science technicians (excluding medical) at gradient 1, with a score of 0.38.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to biological and medical research, synthetic biology and biotechnology research and development.
What do biological technicians do?
They prepare samples, run tests and experiments, maintain lab equipment, analyze data and write reports.