Biological Technicians vs Microbiologists
Median pay is about $30k higher for Microbiologists. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Biological Technicians and doctoral for Microbiologists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Biological Technicians | Microbiologists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $57,510 | $87,990, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $48,130 | $67,100, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $71,520 | $122,350, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +7.4% Growing fast, higher | +6.2% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 9,400 | 1,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Doctoral |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.4 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 70th pct | 66th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Biological Technicians
- Active Learning
Only Microbiologists
- Speaking
Both lean on reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, science, writing.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.