Career comparison
Biological Technician vs. Microbiologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Microbiologists earn more at the median ($87,990 vs. $57,510), while biological technicians usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Biological technicians run experiments and lab work that power biology and biotech research. Microbiologists study bacteria, viruses and microbes to protect health and make products.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Biological Technician | Microbiologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $57,510 ($27.65/hr) | $87,990 ($42.30/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,330 – $84,940 | $54,670 – $150,000 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | +6.2% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 9,400 | 1,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4+ years |
| Key credential | ASCP Technologist in Molecular Biology | ASM Specialist Microbiologist |
| Work setting | Biological technicians work in labs, sometimes with biohazards and research animals.. | Microbiologists work in labs, sometimes with infectious agents under biosafety rules.. |
What each job does
Biological Technician
- Prepare samples and reagents
- Run experiments and assays
- Culture cells and microorganisms
- Operate lab instruments
- Record and analyze data
Microbiologist
- Culture and identify microorganisms
- Test products for contamination
- Design and run experiments
- Monitor clean rooms and environments
- Analyze data
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work, hands-on work, working with information, and problem-solving. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose biological technician if…
- I love biology
- I like hands-on experiments
- I’m patient and precise
Choose microbiologist if…
- I love biology
- I’m careful and precise
- I want to protect health
Still torn? Take the Biological Technician fit quiz and the Microbiologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, biological technician or microbiologist?
Microbiologists earn more at the median: $87,990 versus $57,510 for biological technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Biological Technicians typically train faster (4 years) than microbiologists (4+ years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects biological technicians to grow +7.4% from 2025–35, compared with +6.2% for microbiologists.