Takeover Tracker
37%medium risk

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

Higher risk than 73% of occupations
Checking for existing plan...

How AI Impacts Each Task

18 tasks analyzed

Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.

Risk: 79.2%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 8%

Conduct research or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.

Risk: 30.4%AI: 53.42ObservedTime: 9%

Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations.

Risk: 48.9%AI: 54.83ObservedTime: 5%

Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.

Risk: 73.6%AI: 61.1ObservedTime: 9%

Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.

Risk: 47.4%AI: 51ObservedTime: 8%

Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.

Risk: 31.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 5%

Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 5%

Input data into databases.

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 5%

Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 8%

Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 8%

Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 5%

Feed livestock or laboratory animals.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 3%

Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food or other products.

Risk: 59.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 8%

Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.

Risk: 48.9%AI: 54.7ObservedTime: 4%

Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.

Risk: 79.2%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 4%

Measure or weigh compounds and solutions for use in testing or animal feed.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 4%

Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 2%

Conduct or supervise operational programs such as fish hatcheries, greenhouses and livestock production programs.

Risk: 38.3%AI: 58.33ObservedTime: 2%

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Biological Technicians skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-7.4pt risk+$3K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Courserabeginner

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

by Google

~5 months$49/mo4.8Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Critical Thinking

Estimated Impact

-5.2pt risk+$3K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Coursera

Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence

by Case Western Reserve University

32 hours$49/mo4.8Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Adaptability/Flexibility

Estimated Impact

-3.7pt risk+$3K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-2.0

overall change

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

High School Diploma1%
Some College1%
Post-Secondary Certificate1%
Bachelor's Degree49%
Master's Degree14%
Doctoral/Professional Degree29%
Level 113%
Level 121%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None5%
3-6 months2%
6 months - 1 year6%
1-2 years32%
2-4 years33%
4-6 years7%
Over 10 years15%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None2%
Up to 1 month16%
1-3 months12%
3-6 months32%
6 months - 1 year14%
1-2 years6%
4-6 years17%

Related News

Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

5 articles

LLMs are beginning to assist and automate scientific research

Tech companies are pushing AI as the ultimate scientific research tool to justify massive energy costs. Large language models are already stepping into lab assistant roles, signaling a shift in how foundational research and data analysis are conducted.

MIT Technology ReviewApr 21

OpenAI's New Biology LLM Could Reshape Biotech Research Jobs

GPT-Rosalind is now available in closed access, specifically trained to automate and assist with complex biology workflows. This specialized tool signals a shift where life science researchers will increasingly need to integrate AI into their daily lab tasks.

Ars TechnicaApr 16

AWS launches AI drug discovery tool, reshaping pharma roles

Amazon's new suite of specialized AI models allows scientists to automate the identification of potential drug candidates. This deployment will likely reduce the need for entry-level lab analysts while increasing demand for AI-fluent researchers.

MobiHealthNewsApr 14

Novo Nordisk Taps OpenAI to Automate Drug Development Processes

The pharmaceutical giant is integrating AI to accelerate its research and development pipeline. This partnership signals a major shift in biotech, where computational models will increasingly augment or replace traditional laboratory research roles.

Reuters TechApr 14

Novo Nordisk Taps OpenAI to Automate Pharma Research and Drug Discovery

The pharmaceutical giant behind Wegovy is partnering with OpenAI to accelerate its drug discovery pipeline. This collaboration signals a major shift in biotech, where AI tools will increasingly augment or replace traditional laboratory research roles.

WSJ AIApr 14

Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis