What Does it Take to Be a Bioinformatics Technician?
Bioinformatics Technician Definition Apply principles and methods of bioinformatics to assist scientists in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. Apply bioinformatics tools to visualize, analyze, manipulate or interpret molecular data. May build and maintain databases for processing and analyzing genomic or other biological information.
What Do Bioinformatics Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Design or implement web-based tools for querying large-scale biological databases.
- Train bioinformatics staff or researchers in the use of databases.
- Monitor database performance and perform any necessary maintenance, upgrades, or repairs.
- Develop or maintain applications that process biologically based data into searchable databases for purposes of analysis, calculation, or presentation.
- Confer with database users about project timelines and changes.
- Perform routine system administrative functions, such as troubleshooting, back-ups, or upgrades.
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Qualities of a Bioinformatics Technician
Bioinformatics Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Other Bioinformatics Technician Job Titles
- Submission Technician
- Bioinformatics Assistant
- Bioinformatics Developer
- Research Assistant
- Bioinformatics Specialist
Job Demand for Bioinformatics Technicians
There were about 11,800 jobs for Bioinformatics Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,100 new jobs for Bioinformatics Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Bioinformatics Technician are Utah, Florida, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Bioinformatics Technician
The average yearly salary of a Bioinformatics Technician ranges between $31,470 and $72,860.

Bioinformatics Technicians who work in Connecticut, Washington, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Bioinformatics Technicians make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $41,720 |
Arizona | $39,180 |
California | $50,250 |
Colorado | $45,250 |
Connecticut | $72,480 |
District of Columbia | $54,990 |
Florida | $48,180 |
Georgia | $50,510 |
Hawaii | $47,890 |
Illinois | $53,760 |
Indiana | $37,970 |
Iowa | $55,120 |
Louisiana | $56,010 |
Maine | $40,530 |
Maryland | $49,900 |
Massachusetts | $61,730 |
Michigan | $49,940 |
Minnesota | $49,370 |
Mississippi | $25,280 |
Missouri | $43,410 |
Nebraska | $41,940 |
Nevada | $50,320 |
New Hampshire | $47,210 |
New Jersey | $51,020 |
New Mexico | $45,020 |
New York | $55,620 |
North Carolina | $41,520 |
Ohio | $43,390 |
Oklahoma | $45,520 |
Oregon | $45,920 |
Pennsylvania | $49,850 |
Rhode Island | $52,530 |
South Carolina | $40,160 |
Tennessee | $41,240 |
Texas | $56,700 |
Utah | $54,440 |
Virginia | $52,100 |
Washington | $63,900 |
West Virginia | $42,530 |
Wisconsin | $45,510 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Bioinformatics Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Bioinformatics Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Git
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- Word processing software
- Data visualization software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Linux
Becoming a Bioinformatics Technician
Individuals working as a Bioinformatics Technician have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Bioinformatics Technicians Sector

Bioinformatics Technicians work in the following industries:

References:
Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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