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Occupation · SOC 19-4021

Biological Technicians

There are 69,620 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $57,510 a year. The most jobs are in Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH.

ScienceTypical education: Bachelor's degree
69,620
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$57,510
Median pay a year
Middle half: $48,130–$71,520
9,400
Annual openings
10-year change: +7.4%
934
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+9.6% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 169 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $61,610 · LCA filings 847,320$61,61084
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $62,780 · LCA filings 1303,270$62,780130
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $95,220 · LCA filings 212,690$95,22021
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $63,770 · LCA filings 212,020$63,77021
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $60,630 · LCA filings 791,950$60,63079
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $66,610 · LCA filings 101,830$66,61010
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAMedian pay $67,060 · LCA filings 451,770$67,06045
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $50,140 · LCA filings 541,660$50,14054
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $63,510 · LCA filings 261,630$63,51026
Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COMedian pay $65,140 · LCA filings 91,470$65,1409

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 2,690 · LCA filings 21$95,2202,69021
Trenton–Princeton, NJEmployment 180 · LCA filings 6$77,1701806
Tyler, TXEmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$77,020500
Boulder, COEmployment 110 · LCA filings 0$75,3901100
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 790 · LCA filings 9$72,9407909

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 33 · Employment 3,270130333,270
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 40 · Employment 7,32084407,320
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDEmployers with LCA filings 16 · Employment 1,95079161,950
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 10 · Employment 1,66054101,660
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAEmployers with LCA filings 10 · Employment 1,77045101,770

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $58,739 · Level III $67,496 · Level IV $76,274$49,962$58,739$67,496$76,274
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $55,702 · Level III $65,083 · Level IV $74,485$46,301$55,702$65,083$74,485
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $79,997 · Level III $99,341 · Level IV $118,685$60,653$79,997$99,341$118,685
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $56,784 · Level III $63,752 · Level IV $70,699$49,837$56,784$63,752$70,699
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $54,850 · Level III $62,462 · Level IV $70,054$47,258$54,850$62,462$70,054
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $60,070 · Level III $71,011 · Level IV $81,931$49,150$60,070$71,011$81,931
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CALevel II $59,613 · Level III $69,222 · Level IV $78,853$49,982$59,613$69,222$78,853
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $46,550 · Level III $53,664 · Level IV $60,798$39,416$46,550$53,664$60,798
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $56,077 · Level III $65,416 · Level IV $74,755$46,738$56,077$65,416$74,755
Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COLevel II $56,389 · Level III $63,918 · Level IV $71,427$48,880$56,389$63,918$71,427

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Biology, GeneralCIP 26.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months4,172STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02STEM OPT · up to 36 months1,304STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/TechniciansCIP 41.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months41STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Biological Technicians in every metro area

All 169 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology