Overview
All Science Technicians
-
$1,500 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Life Science Technicians
-
2,400 workers Employment Size
-
High skill Skill level rating
-
71% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
41 hours Average full-time
-
35 years Average age
-
61% female Gender Share
Life Science Technicians identify and collects living organisms and conducts field and laboratory studies in support of Life Scientists or Environmental Scientists.
Also known as: Life Science Technical Officer.
Specialisations: Biological Technical Officer, Botanical Technical Officer, Ecological Technical Officer, Environmental Technical Officer, Fisheries Technical Officer, Forestry Technical Officer, Forestry Technician, Wood Technologist, Zoology Technical Officer.
You usually need a formal qualification in life science, laboratory technology or another related field to work as a Life Science Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Tasks
- Prepares materials for experimentation, including freezing and slicing specimens and mixing chemicals.
- Collects information and samples.
- Conducts field and laboratory experiments, tests and analyses.
- Presents results in graphic or written form by preparing maps charts, sketches, diagrams and reports.
- Performs routine mathematical calculations and computations of measurement.
- Controls the quality and quantity of laboratory supplies by testing samples and monitoring usage.
- Checks, calibrates and maintains test equipment.
- Participate in fabricating, installing and modifying equipment to ensure that critical standards are met.
Prospects
The number of people working as Life Science Technicians (in their main job) stayed about the same over 5 years:
from 2,300 in 2011 to 2,400 in 2016.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Life Science Technicians work in many regions of Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Education and Training; and Health Care and Social Assistance.
- Full-time: Many work full-time (71%, higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 41 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 35 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 61% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
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.
Pathways
You usually need a formal qualification in life science, laboratory technology or another related field to work as a Life Science Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. 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.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Science Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Biology
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Medicine and dentistry
Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
Food production
Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Mathematics
Using maths to solve problems.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Systems evaluation
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Written expression
Write in a way that people can understand.
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Mathematics
Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Explaining things to people
Helping people to understand and use information.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

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.
Work Environment
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.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Physically close to people
Work physically close to other people.
-
Repeating same tasks
Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
Consequence of error
Work where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Spend time sitting
Spend time sitting at work.
-
Making repetitive motions
Spend time making repetitive motions.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Independence
Work 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.
-
Relationships
Serve 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.
-
Recognition
Advancement 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.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

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.
All Science Technicians
-
$1,500 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Life Science Technicians
-
2,400 workers Employment Size
-
High skill Skill level rating
-
71% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
41 hours Average full-time
-
35 years Average age
-
61% female Gender Share
Life Science Technicians identify and collects living organisms and conducts field and laboratory studies in support of Life Scientists or Environmental Scientists.
Also known as: Life Science Technical Officer.
Specialisations: Biological Technical Officer, Botanical Technical Officer, Ecological Technical Officer, Environmental Technical Officer, Fisheries Technical Officer, Forestry Technical Officer, Forestry Technician, Wood Technologist, Zoology Technical Officer.
You usually need a formal qualification in life science, laboratory technology or another related field to work as a Life Science Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Tasks
- Prepares materials for experimentation, including freezing and slicing specimens and mixing chemicals.
- Collects information and samples.
- Conducts field and laboratory experiments, tests and analyses.
- Presents results in graphic or written form by preparing maps charts, sketches, diagrams and reports.
- Performs routine mathematical calculations and computations of measurement.
- Controls the quality and quantity of laboratory supplies by testing samples and monitoring usage.
- Checks, calibrates and maintains test equipment.
- Participate in fabricating, installing and modifying equipment to ensure that critical standards are met.
The number of people working as Life Science Technicians (in their main job) stayed about the same over 5 years:
from 2,300 in 2011 to 2,400 in 2016.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Life Science Technicians work in many regions of Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Education and Training; and Health Care and Social Assistance.
- Full-time: Many work full-time (71%, higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 41 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 35 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 61% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
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.
You usually need a formal qualification in life science, laboratory technology or another related field to work as a Life Science Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. 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.
Employers look for Science Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Biology
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Medicine and dentistry
Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
Food production
Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Mathematics
Using maths to solve problems.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Systems evaluation
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Written expression
Write in a way that people can understand.
-
Flexibility of closure
See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Mathematics
Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Explaining things to people
Helping people to understand and use information.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

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.
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.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Physically close to people
Work physically close to other people.
-
Repeating same tasks
Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
Consequence of error
Work where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Spend time sitting
Spend time sitting at work.
-
Making repetitive motions
Spend time making repetitive motions.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Independence
Work 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.
-
Relationships
Serve 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.
-
Recognition
Advancement 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.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

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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.