What Does it Take to Be a Bioinformatics Technician?
Job Description: 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?
- Maintain awareness of new and emerging computational methods and technologies.
- Participate in the preparation of reports or scientific publications.
- Develop or apply data mining and machine learning algorithms.
- Design or implement web-based tools for querying large-scale biological databases.
- Extend existing software programs, web-based interactive tools, or database queries as sequence management and analysis needs evolve.
- Monitor database performance and perform any necessary maintenance, upgrades, or repairs.
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Bioinformatics Technician Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Bioinformatics Technicians say are important on the job.
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
- Biometrics Technician
- Log Data Technician
- Data Analyst
- Research Assistant
- Bioinformatics Developer
Job Opportunities for Bioinformatics Technicians
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 11,800 jobs in the United States for Bioinformatics Technician. 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. The BLS estimates 1,600 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Do Bioinformatics Technicians Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Bioinformatics Technicians ranges between about $31,470 and $72,860 a year.
Bioinformatics Technicians who work in Connecticut, Washington, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Bioinformatics Technicians make in each U.S. state?
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 |
What Tools do Bioinformatics Technicians Use?
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
Are there Bioinformatics Technicians education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Bioinformatics Technician?
Who Employs Bioinformatics Technicians?
The table below shows the approximate number of Bioinformatics Technicians employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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