Job Salary for a Biotech
Biotechnicians, also called biological technicians, work in a wide variety of fields. Examples of opportunities for biotechs include pharmaceutical manufacturing, agricultural and environmental science, medical research and positions with government agencies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees faster-than-average job growth of 18 percent in this occupation between 2008 and 2018. About half of all biotechs have salaries of at least $18 per hour as of 2010.
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Starting Salary
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The starting salary for a biotechnician as of 2011 ranges from about $25,000 to $30,000 per year, according to the Texas Bioscience Institute. That translates to around $12 to $14.40 per hour. The Institute's website says that biotech salaries vary by industry, location, education and experience.
Average and Median Salaries
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As of May 2010, biotechs earned an average hourly wage of $20.07, equaling $41,740 per year, according to data that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics collected from employers. The median salary, or the salary at which half of all biotechs earn more and half earn less, was lower, at $18.76 per hour. Biotechs in the 25th to 75th percentile, which may be considered the most representative part of the salary range, earned $14.77 to $24.10 per hour.
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High-Employment States
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California had the highest employment level of biotechnicians by state in 2010, with about 10,840 of these workers, earning $23.12 per hour on average. Massachusetts ranked second, with about 5,210 biotechs, making an average of $23.52 per hour. California ranked third in the country for biotechnician average pay, while Massachusetts ranked second. Connecticut held top place, at $24.30 per hour, equaling $50,550 per year.
High-Concentration Areas
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With its estimated 5,210 biotechnicians, Massachusetts also was the state with the largest concentration by population of these workers. More than 1 of every 1,000 workers in this state was a biotechnician in 2010. Oregon, with an estimated 2,510 workers in this occupation, had the second-largest concentration. The average salary in Oregon was significantly lower, however, at $17.92 per hour. By U.S. metropolitan area, Ames, Iowa, had the largest concentration of biotechs by far. More than eight of every 1,000 workers in Ames was a biotechnician in 2010. Salaries there also were lower than the national average, at an average of $18.83 per hour.
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References
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