Bioinformatics Technicians

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.

SOC: 15-2099.01

Common Job Titles

Bioinformatics Analyst
Bioinformatics Specialist
Biotechnician
Scientific Informatics Analyst

What You'll Need to Succeed

AI-generated

Key competencies for this occupation at a glance

KnowledgeAnalyze genomic and proteomic datasets using bioinformatics software tools such as BLAST, GATK, and Bowtie in computational biology environments.
Proficient
KnowledgeDesign database architectures for storing and processing biological information using SQL, MySQL, and Oracle Database to support pharmaceutical and biotechnology research.
Proficient
Hands-onOperate high-throughput bioinformatics pipelines and computational clusters in Linux environments to process large-scale molecular data.
Proficient
KnowledgeApply statistical methods and algorithms using R, Python, MATLAB, and SAS to interpret molecular patterns and trends.
Proficient
KnowledgeEvaluate sequence alignment results and biological data quality applying quality control standards in pharmaceutical and medical technology settings.
Proficient
KnowledgeAssess emerging bioinformatics methodologies and computational tools through continuous learning to maintain currency in genomics, proteomics, and systems biology.
Proficient
KnowledgeInterpret complex molecular data and computational analysis outputs for scientific reports and presentations to researchers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical informatics.
Proficient
KnowledgeDevelop custom scripts and programs for data visualization and manipulation using Python, Perl, C++, and R to meet specific research requirements.
Developing
MindsetEngage with interdisciplinary scientific teams to provide bioinformatics consultation and translate computational findings for biological interpretation.
Developing
Hands-onExecute version control workflows using Git and Apache Subversion to maintain reproducible bioinformatics analysis pipelines.
Developing

Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Bioinformatics Technicians (2024)

Region

Compare with Region

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

4,660

Wage Distribution by Percentile

U.S.

Metric	U.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less	$40,330
10% of workers earn the following or more	$154,140
Workers on average earn	$84,700

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

Computers and Electronics4.8/5
Mathematics4.5/5
English Language4.0/5
Biology3.8/5
Design2.9/5

Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

Apache Subversion SVN
C
C++
Git
Hypertext markup language HTML
IBM SPSS Statistics
Jenkins CI
Linux
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Word
MySQL
Oracle Database
Oracle Java
Perl
Python
R
Ruby
SAP software
SAS
Structured query language SQL
The MathWorks MATLAB

Technology Skills

Atlassian Bamboo
Avaya Identity Engines
Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
Bioconductor
Bowtie
Burrows-Wheeler Aligner BWA
ClustalW
Cufflinks

Tools & Equipment

Computer clusters
Computer workstation setups
Desktop computers
High throughput screening HTS systems
Network file servers
Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers
Semiconductor-based sequencers
Web servers