Biological Technician salary in Pennsylvania
Biological Technicians in Pennsylvania earn a median of $54,950 a year ($26.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,530 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $57,510. Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 51 states for biological technicians pay. There are 0.47 biological technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $59,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for biological technicians in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,270 | $20.80 |
| 25th percentile | $48,170 | $23.16 |
| Median | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| 75th percentile | $71,510 | $34.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,530 | $38.72 |
| Average (mean) | $59,630 | $28.67 |
Half of biological technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,579.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,289.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,113.46 |
| Weekly | $1,056.73 |
| Hourly | $26.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Biological Technician salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | $62,000 | 130 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $60,630 | 1,950 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $51,320 | 120 |
| Reading, PA | $50,400 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $47,810 | 320 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,110 | n/a |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $44,960 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for biological technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $71,440 |
| New Jersey | $66,040 |
| District of Columbia | $64,770 |
| Connecticut | $62,360 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 |
| North Carolina | $61,720 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $60,800 |
| Maine | $60,160 |
| Colorado | $59,400 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Technician | $59,420 | $28.57 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $54,610 | $26.26 |
| Food Science Technician | $48,060 | $23.11 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $57,370 | $27.58 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $61,580 | $29.60 |
| Nuclear Technician | $124,070 | $59.65 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Agricultural Technician | $48,800 | $23.46 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $99,190 | $47.69 |
| Chemist | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,050 | $41.85 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological technician make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for biological technicians in Pennsylvania is $54,950 a year, or $26.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid biological technicians make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of biological technicians in Pennsylvania earn at least $80,530 a year. The top 25% earn $71,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for biological technicians in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,270 a year, and a quarter of biological technicians earn $48,170 or less.
How many biological technicians work in Pennsylvania?
About 2,820 biological technicians are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.