National Occupational Classification (NOC): 22110
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Agricultural technician
- Agricultural technologist
- Aquaculture technician
- Biological laboratory technologist
- Botanical technician
- Fish hatchery technician
- Fisheries technician
- Microbiology technologist (except medical)
- Plant breeding technician
- Wildlife biology technician
What do biological technologists and technicians do?
Biological technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals working in fields such as agriculture, resource management, environmental protection, plant and animal biology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology and health sciences, or may work independently in these fields. They are employed in both laboratory and field settings by governments, manufacturers of food products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology companies, health, research and educational institutions, environmental consulting companies, and resource and utilities companies.
Biological technologists perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set up and conduct biological, microbiological and biochemical tests and laboratory analyses in support of research and quality control in food production, sanitation, pharmaceutical production, biotechnology and other fields.
- Apply methods and techniques such as microscopy, histochemistry, chromatography, electrophoresis and spectroscopy.
- Perform experimental procedures in agriculture, plant breeding, animal husbandry, biology and biomedical research.
- Conduct field research and surveys to collect data and samples of water, soil, and plant and animal populations.
- Conduct environmental monitoring and compliance activities for the protection of fisheries stock, wildlife and other natural resources.
- Analyze data and prepare reports.
- Conduct or supervise operational programs such as fish hatchery, greenhouse and livestock production programs.
Biological technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
- Assist in conducting biological, microbiological and biochemical tests and laboratory analyses.
- Perform limited range of technical functions in support of agriculture, plant breeding, animal husbandry, biology, biomedical research and environmental protection.
- Assist in conducting field research and surveys to collect data and samples of water, soil, and plant and animal populations.
- Assist in analysis of data and preparation of reports.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Biological technologists and technicians primarily work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 911 Federal government public administration
- 111-112 Farms
- 541 Professional, scientific and technical services
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
An employment outlook is unavailable for this occupation due to low levels of employment in the province.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Biological technologists and technicians belong to the broader occupational group 2211 (Technical occupations in life sciences). This group is forecast to be balanced (rating of 2.0 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply is expected to meet forecasted job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there was 1 public job posting for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 100% | Western: 0% |
| Eastern: 0% | Labrador: 0% |
| Central: 0% | NL-unspecified: 0% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year).
Who works as biological technologists and technicians in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 205 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 63% of those employed were Male+ and 39% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 10% | 76% | 15% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
How much do biological technologists and technicians make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all biological technologists and technicians in the reference year 2020 (250 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $60,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for biological technologists and technicians in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $15.00 | $20.20 | $31.00 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $17.28 | $27.00 | $38.46 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Inventory Management
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- Completion of a two- to three-year college program in a field related to agriculture, biology, microbiology, wildlife or resource management is usually required for employment as a biological technologist.
- Completion of a one- to two-year college program in a related field is required for employment as a biological technician.
- Certification with provincial associations is available, but voluntary.
- There is limited mobility among occupations in this group.
- Some technologists and technicians working in support of government and academic research in biology are university graduates.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.