What is 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.
Life As a Bioinformatics Technician: What Do They Do?
- Package bioinformatics data for submission to public repositories.
- Train bioinformatics staff or researchers in the use of databases.
- Create data management or error-checking procedures and user manuals.
- Enter or retrieve information from structural databases, protein sequence motif databases, mutation databases, genomic databases or gene expression databases.
- Maintain awareness of new and emerging computational methods and technologies.
- Document all database changes, modifications, or problems.
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Things a Bioinformatics Technician Should Know How to Do
When polled, Bioinformatics Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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
- Informatics Developer
- Submission Technician
- Bioinformatics Specialist
- Bioinformatics Technician
- Bioinformatics Analyst
Are There 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Bioinformatics Technician
Bioinformatics Technicians make between $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 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 |
What Tools do Bioinformatics Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Bioinformatics Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- 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
How to Become a Bioinformatics Technician
What kind of Bioinformatics Technician requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Bioinformatics Technician?

Where Bioinformatics Technicians Work

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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