Science technicians held about 324,000 jobs in 2004. As indicated by the following tabulation, chemical and biological technicians accounted for 39 percent of all jobs:
| Biological technicians | 64,000 |
| Chemical technicians | 62,000 |
| Forest and conservation technicians | 33,000 |
| Environmental science and protection technicians, including health | 31,000 |
| Agricultural and food science technicians | 23,000 |
| Geological and petroleum technicians | 11,000 |
| Forensic science technicians | 9,800 |
| Nuclear technicians | 7,300 |
Chemical technicians held jobs in a wide range of manufacturing and service-providing industries. Thirty-five percent worked in chemical manufacturing and another 26 percent worked in professional, scientific, or technical services firms. About 27 percent of biological technicians also worked in professional, scientific, or technical services firms; most other biological technicians worked in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing or for Federal, State, or local governments. Significant numbers of environmental science and protection technicians also worked for State and local governments and professional, scientific, and technical services firms. About 75 percent of forest and conservation technicians held jobs in the Federal Government; another 13 percent worked for State governments. Around 18 percent of agricultural and food science technicians worked for food-processing companies; most of the rest worked for scientific research and development services firms and State governments. Approximately 23 percent of all geological and petroleum technicians worked for oil and gas extraction companies, and forensic science technicians worked primarily for State and local governments.
Earnings Overview
Median hourly earnings of science technicians in May 2004 were as follows:
| Nuclear technicians | $28.46 |
| Forensic science technicians | 21.16 |
| Geological and petroleum technicians | 19.35 |
| Chemical technicians | 18.35 |
| Environmental science and protection technicians, including health | 16.99 |
| Biological technicians | 15.97 |
| Agricultural and food science technicians | 14.29 |
| Forest and conservation technicians | 13.14 |
In 2005, the average annual salary in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions in the Federal Government was $38,443 for biological science technicians; $50,264 for physical science technicians; $62,854 for geodetic technicians; $48,238 for hydrologic technicians; and $58,725 for meteorological technicians.
Earnings by State
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