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Biological Technicians vs Chemists: what changes?

Consider Biological Technicians if you want to assist biological and medical scientists. Consider Chemists if you would rather conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Biological Technicians and Chemists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Biological Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$57,510
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
9,400
Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Biological Technicians brief

Chemists

National median pay (2025)
$91,240
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
5,900
Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Chemists brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Chemists has the edge on median pay

Chemists is at $91,240, compared with $57,510 for Biological Technicians.

2

Biological Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Biological Technicians is at 9,400 annual openings, compared with 5,900 annual openings for Chemists.

3

Biological Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Biological Technicians is at 7.4% projected growth, compared with 6.4% projected growth for Chemists.

57.4/ 100

Biological Technicians

vs
64.2/ 100

Chemists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Biological Technicians vs Chemists

DimensionBiological TechniciansChemists
Median pay (2025)$57,510$91,240
Pay percentile42.8 percentile77.5 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)7.4%6.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)9,4005,900
2025 employment74,40084,900
How you qualifyBachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 4Job Zone 4
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Biological Technicians briefRead Chemists brief

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Biological Technicians vs Microbiologists

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Biological Technicians
$57,510 · 7.4% growth
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Chemists vs Food Scientists and Technologists

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$91,240 · 6.4% growth
Food Scientists and Technologists
$88,720 · 6.2% growth
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Chemists vs Microbiologists

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Chemists
$91,240 · 6.4% growth
Microbiologists
$87,990 · 6.2% growth
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ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.