Produces living medicines such as CAR-T cell therapies and gene therapy vectors in sterile cleanrooms under strict pharmaceutical manufacturing rules. BLS does not publish separate figures for biological technicians; it counts them within biological technician (SOC 19-4021), whose median pay is $57,510 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-4021
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate in four numbers
- Median pay
- $57,510a year, or $27.65/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $85K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.4%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,40074,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202574.4K
- Projected 203579.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 74.4K Projected 2035 79.9K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school14.5%
- Certificate2.5%
- Some college14.5%
- Bachelor's62.8%
- Doctorate0.2%
- Post-doctoral training5.6%
Highest education held by biological technicians Segment Value High school 14.5% Certificate 2.5% Some college 14.5% Bachelor's 62.8% Doctorate 0.2% Post-doctoral training 5.6%
Also advertised as: Cell Therapy Manufacturing Associate, Gene Therapy Manufacturing Technician, CAR-T Manufacturing Specialist, Viral Vector Manufacturing Associate, GMP Cell Processing Technician.
Pay
How much do Biological Technicians make?
Every cell and gene therapy manufacturing associate in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$57,510
Middle half earn $48,130 to $71,520
- 10th
- $40,330
- 25th
- $48,130
- 75th
- $71,520
- 90th
- $84,940
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,330 |
| 25th | $48,130 |
| Median | $57,510 |
| 75th | $71,520 |
| 90th | $84,940 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $57,510
- Median hourly wage
- $27.65/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $61,380
- People employed
- 69,620
Versus all US occupations
At $57,510, Biological Technicians earn 13% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,530 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 30% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $84,940 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,330, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 29% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($71,440), but once local prices are taken into account Mississippi leads at $65,472 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Biological Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $71,440 | $64,523 | 9,210 |
| 2New Jersey | $66,040 | $60,696 | 1,290 |
| 3District of Columbia | $64,770 | $58,935 | 210 |
| 4Connecticut | $62,360 | $60,187 | 650 |
| 5Massachusetts | $62,070 | $58,691 | 8,430 |
| 6North Carolina | $61,720 | $65,433 | 2,460 |
| 7New York | $61,210 | $56,717 | 5,050 |
| 8Washington | $60,800 | $56,816 | 3,210 |
| 9Maine | $60,160 | $61,989 | 510 |
| 10Colorado | $59,400 | $57,641 | 1,990 |
Job outlook
Is Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | +7.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Biological Technicians to change 7.4% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.1× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,400 openings are projected each year, 12.6% of the 74,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate
Many associates hold a bachelor's degree in biology, biotechnology or a related science, and some employers hire people with an associate degree or a biomanufacturing certificate from a community college program. Aseptic technique, cell culture experience and comfort with detailed documentation are the most important skills.
The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals supports workforce training programs for biomanufacturing, and the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy offers education on the field. New hires usually train on the employer's procedures for weeks before working on patient batches, then can advance to senior associate, supervisor or process development roles.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as biological technicians.
- Bachelor's Degree62.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)14.5%
- Some College Courses14.5%
- Post-Doctoral Training5.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 62.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 14.5% |
| Some College Courses | 14.5% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 5.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate do?
Cell and gene therapy manufacturing associates make some of the newest medicines in the world. In cell therapy, they take a patient's own blood cells, modify them, grow them and package them as a personalized dose, so each batch belongs to one specific patient. In gene therapy, they grow cells that produce the viral vectors used to deliver new genetic instructions.
The work happens in cleanrooms under current good manufacturing practice rules. Associates gown up, run bioreactors, cell processing machines and biosafety cabinets, take samples for quality testing, and record every step in batch records. Because a mistake can ruin a dose that cannot be replaced, attention to detail and strict procedure following are central to the job.
Day-to-day tasks
- Gown and work aseptically in classified cleanrooms
- Isolate, modify and expand patient cells following batch records
- Operate bioreactors, cell processors and biosafety cabinets
- Take in-process samples for quality control testing
- Track chain of identity so each dose matches its patient
- Complete good manufacturing practice documentation without errors
- Clean and maintain cleanroom equipment and supplies
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Associates work in pharmaceutical plants, contract manufacturers and hospital-affiliated manufacturing centers. Cleanroom work means full gowning, long periods standing, and limited breaks during critical steps. Many facilities run around the clock, so shift, weekend and holiday work is common.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Science3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.5
- Active Learning3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Systems Analysis2.9
- Systems Evaluation2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 2.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Map creation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIC) built on O*NET's Biological Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.7
- Conventional5.6
- Investigative5.4
- Social2.0
- Enterprising1.3
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician
$62,930median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+2.7%Bachelor's - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
$62,930median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+2.7%Bachelor's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with biological technicians highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
- Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
| Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate appears on
Questions
Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate: frequently asked questions
How much do Biological Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for biological technicians. It counts them within biological technician, whose median pay is $57,510 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $48,130 and $71,520, and the top 10% earn $84,940 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Biological Technicians, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.4% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate do?
Cell and gene therapy manufacturing associates make some of the newest medicines in the world. A typical task: gown and work aseptically in classified cleanrooms. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Biological Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Biological Technicians are California ($71,440), New Jersey ($66,040), District of Columbia ($64,770) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Mississippi moves to the top at $65,472.
What personality type suits a Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Associate?
O*NET scores Biological Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.