Science Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Science Technicians perform tests and experiments, and provide technical support functions to assist with research, design, production and teaching in chemistry, earth sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences.
Tasks
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preparing materials for experimentation such as freezing and slicing specimens and mixing chemicals
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collecting information and samples
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conducting field and laboratory experiments, tests and analyses
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presenting results in graphic and written form by preparing maps, charts, sketches, diagrams and reports
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performing routine mathematical calculations, and computations of measurements
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controlling the quality and quantity of laboratory supplies by testing samples and monitoring usage
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checking, calibrating and maintaining test equipment
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participating in fabricating, installing and modifying equipment to ensure that critical standards are met
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preparing experiments and demonstrations for science classes
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Light
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow moderately
- is likely to reach 22,300 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 19,200 |
2012 | 16,100 |
2013 | 17,200 |
2014 | 11,100 |
2015 | 16,300 |
2016 | 14,100 |
2017 | 17,300 |
2018 | 11,900 |
2019 | 16,800 |
2020 | 16,000 |
2021 | 20,900 |
2026 | 22,300 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 71% of people employed as Science Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 5 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,441 per week, this is lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,327
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,643
Median hourly earnings are $36, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Science Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,441 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Science Technicians work in industries like:
- Education and training
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Science Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 25.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 27.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 14.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.9 | 1.9 |
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Around 60% of Science Technicians live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
Western Australia has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Science Technicians is 42 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 53% of the workforce. This is 5 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Science Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 8.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 24.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 21.3 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 23.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.0 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 42 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Extensive experience or a formal qualification in a related science field is needed to work as a Science Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Laboratory Operations, Food Processing and Australian Meat Processing VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Science Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 11.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 31.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 18.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 17.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 13.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.7 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 5.7 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Science Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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66%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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54%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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52%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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50%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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50%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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50%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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43%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
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41%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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39%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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39%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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78%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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64%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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57%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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54%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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53%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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48%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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44%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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39%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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39%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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34%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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30%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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29%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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28%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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26%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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26%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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25%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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23%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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22%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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15%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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12%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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64%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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64%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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63%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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61%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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59%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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59%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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59%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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55%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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54%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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54%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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50%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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50%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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48%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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48%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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48%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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72%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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72%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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71%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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70%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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69%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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67%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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64%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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63%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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63%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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62%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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56%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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56%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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56%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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48%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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48%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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46%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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45%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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44%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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43%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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43%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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90%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
71%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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67%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
33%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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24%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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62%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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62%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
55%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
52%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
48%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
43%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
98%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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91%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
85%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
81%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
78%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
76%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
76%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
74%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
74%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
73%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
72%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
69%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
66%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
66%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
66%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
64%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
63%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
63%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
60%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 19-4021.00 - Biological Technicians.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.