# Will AI replace biotechnologists? Updated October 2026 Biological technicians score 39 of 100 for AI exposure. 41% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 27% today and speed up another 32%. - **27%** AI can do it - **32%** AI helps - **41%** Needs a person Moderate exposure Higher than 51% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 17 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 4 of them today, speeds up 5 and leaves 8 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Input data into databases. Routine data entry into databases, a core AI strength. | 85% AI can do it | | Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities. Routine digital logging that AI can draft and structure. | 75% AI can do it | | Place orders for laboratory equipment and supplies. Ordering supplies is digital and routine, easily automated. | 65% AI can do it | | Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings. AI can analyze data and draft reports, with expert review. | 62% AI can do it | | Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties. General computer use is easily assisted; equipment interaction is not. | 45% AI helps | ## How biological technicians compare All occupations (923) Life, physical and social science (60) **Biological technicians score 39**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 47 for life, physical and social science. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $57,510 a year, May 2025 People employed 69,620 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +7.4% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Calibrate and troubleshoot lab instruments manually - Collect blood, water, soil and plant samples in person - Prepare specimens for examination with skilled bench technique - Verify AI-drafted experiment summaries against raw SAS output - Map field sample sites in ESRI ArcGIS ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Medical laboratory technicians27 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/medical-laboratory-technicians/) - [Medical laboratory technologists35 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/medical-laboratory-technologists/) - [Histotechnologists27 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/histotechnologists/) - [Agricultural technicians32 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/agricultural-technicians/) - [Histology technicians15 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/histology-technicians/) ## Questions about biological technicians and AI Will biotechnologists be replaced by AI? Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours of a biological technician's job go to tasks AI can already do, mostly data entry into databases and keeping detailed logs of work. Equipment setup, sample collection and specimen preparation stay with people because they need a person at the bench. Which biological technician tasks is AI taking over? Inputting data into databases scores 85 on exposure, the highest of any task in this job, because entry is routine and digital. Keeping detailed logs scores 75, since AI can draft and structure them. Placing orders for lab equipment and supplies scores 65 because ordering runs through digital forms and repeat purchases. Which biological technician tasks stay human? Feeding lab animals scores 2 on exposure, and cleaning and preparing work areas scores 5, since both are physical care work. Isolating and preparing specimens scores 12, and collecting blood, water, soil and plant samples also scores 12, because skilled hands and physical presence are required. How can biological technicians stay valuable as AI spreads? Take responsibility for the bench work that depends on your hands. Calibrate pipettes and balances, troubleshoot instruments, and keep maintenance records current. Check AI-drafted summaries against raw data in Microsoft Excel or SAS before they reach a principal investigator. Learn ESRI ArcGIS for field site mapping, since sample collection stays physical. ## Related jobs - [Chemical technicians42 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/chemical-technicians/) - [Chemists46 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/chemists/) - [Natural sciences managers45 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/natural-sciences-managers/) - [Biology professors48 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/biology-professors/) ## Next steps for biological technicians - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.