Will AI replace biological technicians?

Part of the work, not the whole job. AI could take on about 40% of the working time in a typical biological technician job today. The other 60% still needs a person.

60% of the work still needs a person.

Needs a person: 60%A person checking AI: 13%AI alone: 27%

The bracket under the bar is the evidence range for the share AI could take on: 36 to 40%. One end comes from how well AI did each responsibility in real use, or a second rating where that isn't measured. The other is our figure, which also follows research across the industry.

18 responsibilities in a typical biological technician job. Median pay $57,510 a year in the U.S. (BLS, May 2025).

Still needs a person

  • Collect research samples
  • Help with pharmaceutical research and production
  • Feed and care for animals
  • Examine animals and specimens for problems
  • Clean and prepare lab supplies and areas
  • Run hatchery or greenhouse operations

AI can do or help with

  • Use computerized and robotic lab equipment AI helps
  • Monitor experiments and record data AI helps
  • Keep detailed activity logs AI can do it
  • Enter data into databases AI can do it
  • Check lab work meets standards AI helps
  • Measure compounds and solutions AI helps

The biggest responsibilities on each side, ranked by a person's time on the left. "AI helps" means AI takes on part of the work, or most of it with a person checking what it produces, so one can show on both sides. See all 18, with the reason for each and the cost of handing them to AI.

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Questions people ask

Will AI replace biological technicians?

Part of the work, not the whole job. AI could take on about 40% of the working time in a typical biological technician job today. The other 60% still needs a person. That is a split of the work, not a forecast of jobs lost.

Which parts of the job can AI do?

The biggest ones AI can do or help with: use computerized and robotic lab equipment, monitor experiments and record data, keep detailed activity logs, enter data into databases, check lab work meets standards, measure compounds and solutions.

Which parts still need a person?

The biggest ones: collect research samples, help with pharmaceutical research and production, feed and care for animals, examine animals and specimens for problems, clean and prepare lab supplies and areas, run hatchery or greenhouse operations.

How is this measured?

The U.S. Department of Labor lists 18 responsibilities for this job (O*NET 31.0). Each is scored on 4 questions: can AI do it, does it get it right, must a person sign for it, and do people need to deal with a real person. The split is weighted by how much of the job each responsibility takes up. The evidence range for the share AI could take on is 36 to 40%. One end comes from how well AI did each responsibility in real use, or a second rating where that isn't measured. The other is our figure, which also follows research across the industry. Scores version 0.7.17, updated October 28, 2026.

Responsibilities from O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor). Pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025. Scores are calibrated to published research and updated every month. How it works.

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