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Career Center :: More Health Informatics Career Profiles
Biotechnician |
Career OverviewA Biotechnician is a valuable part of any research or development team. As professionals within a team the biotechnician acts to help collect data, prepare and set-up equipment for laboratory and research projects, conduct actual data recording and completing of various elements of the research, data correlation and preparation, as well as possibly working on production of a product being developed through the experiments and trials.
The Biotechnician basically works with the hands-on aspects of the trials or lab work, and is less involved in the actual development of the research. Some biotechs may also be involved within the team in helping with research design, but this is usually only an option for more senior and experienced biotechnicians.
Biotechnicians may be employed by manufacturing companies, research facilities and hospitals, agricultural sectors or environmental companies and industries. Biotechnicians are used in almost every laboratory type research project in any sector of the economy.
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Career RequirementsAs with most of the Biotechnology careers the requirements for the various biotech fields varies slightly with the different industries and positions within the research team. The minimum requirement for a biotech is an Associates degree however most biotechnology jobs require additional knowledge and skills such as:
- Good mathematical and computational skills
- Computer skills
- Understanding of both organic and inorganic chemistry
- Ability to meticulously follow directions, both written and oral
- Good interpersonal skills and communication skills
Some advanced biotech jobs require masters level science degrees or specialized programs in various disciplines. Additional computer and computational skills are a definite asset for a biotechnician.
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Job OutlookWith the increased emphasis on researching and developing new “natural” or more environmentally friendly products in most market areas the career outlook for individuals that want to specialize in biotechnical jobs is very promising. Drug manufacturers, food products, agriculture, medicine and even animal science and medicine all have requirements for biotechnicians.
The career is specialized and the demand for experienced and qualified individuals is high in most areas. Smaller and more rural areas will have less of a demand but larger centers, hospitals and manufacturing areas will always have a high demand.
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Career TrackDepending on the educational level, 2 year certificate, Associates Degree, Masters or Doctoral level there are various options available for those entering the field. A qualified biotechnician can look for jobs as:
- Research Assistant
- Data Processing
- Clinical Assistant
- Laboratory Assistant
- Manufacturing
- Development
- Animal Technicians
- Horticultural Technicians
- Research Technician
Many biotechnicians choose career tracks that focus on an area that they have existing knowledge or an interest in. By continued education and experience it is possible to become a more integral part of the research team and to move into administration and supervisory roles.
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CompensationExperience is very critical in determining compensation. According to the Economic Research Institute the average salary for a non-experienced, Associates degree level biotechnician averaged approximately $25,000 per year in the United States.
As the level of experience and education increases, so does the pay. An experienced Master’s level biotechnician can make in excess of $43,000 per year. Often there are bonuses and incentives to research teams that can range between three and eight percent of their average yearly pay.
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